

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 


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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



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A LITTLE 


COMEDY OF Errors 

BY 

5. 5. AORTON 


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Little Comedy of Errors 




S. S. MORTON 


“ 1 / 


circumstances lead me, I will find 
Where truth is hid*^ 

— Hamlet. 



ST. PAUL 

The Price-McGill Company 


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S 


Copyrighted 1891 


BY 

S. S. MORTON 


FEINTED AND PLATED BY 

THE PRICE-MCGILL COMPANY 

ST. PAUL, MINN. 


THE GOLDEN LIBRARY 


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The trade will be supplied by the News Companies. 




CHAPTER I. 


^gan : — Why look you cold on me ? You know me well. 

Ant. S ,: — I never saw you in my life till now. 

— Comedy of Errors. 

‘‘The Clement House, sir! Here you are.’’ 

And tlie Hackman, descending nimbly from his 
elevated perch to the smooth white pavement of 
flagstones, threw open the carriage door and stood 
surveying the solitary fare whom he had triumph- 
antly captured at the railway station fifteen minutes 
before. 

The fare started up as if from a fit of profound 
abstraction. 

“The Clement House?” he repeated, glancing up 
at the hotel with its wide stone portico supported 
by massive pillars and ornamented with its usual 
quota of smoking, staring, well-dressed idlers. 

“Well, driver, what did we agree upon? Seventy- 
five cents — and here it is.” 

The money, in glittering silver pieces, was handed 
out and eagerly transferred to the Hackman’s pocket; 
then the gentleman, with a small portmanteau in his 
hand, emerged from the carriage and walked leisurely 
up the steps of the hotel. 


3 


4 


A LITTLE COMELY OE ERRORS. 


He was a handsome man, tall, slender and elegant 
in figure, and he carried himself with a condescend- 
ing air, as very handsome men are apt to do. He 
was enveloped in a long, loose ulster, evidently 
donned to protect his expensive broadcloth from the 
dust of travel; a soft black hat rested upon his 
auburn curls. His dark grey eyes were keen and 
slightly quizzical in expression; his whole counte- 
nance, though delicate in features and complexion, 
denoted strength, determination and reckless daring, 
with a touch of genuine mirthfulness to which, 
however, the dark sweeping mustache that he wore 
gave an odd contradiction by the indescribably 
mournful droop that it took. 

He had scarcely ascended the hotel steps when he 
was accosted on all sides by the assembled gentlemen. 

“North! North! Ye gods and little fishes, if it 
isn’t North back again!” arose a chorus of aston- 
ished voices as the group of idlers suspended all 
other conversation in order to question the new- 
comer. 

“Why, what does this mean. North? Back before 
anyone has had time to miss you!” said one, as he 
held his cigar aloft and hastily adjusted his eye-glasses. 

“ Come back to get a better start ? ” 

“Afraid your friends wouldn’t be able to survive 
your absence? ” 

“Forgot something, perhaps?” suggested one 


A LITTLE Comedy oe errors. 


5 


brilliant genius, thus bringing himself out in bold 
relief against the background of vague and unsatis- 
factory conjecture. 

“Was it your heart, North? Inquire up on Dela- 
plaine street, and it will no doubt be returned and 
no questions asked!’’ 

Thus the running fire of banter went on. The 
victim of it, halted thus unceremoniously on the very 
steps of the hotel, stood in bewildered silence for a 
moment without attempting any response. But 
after the first pause of utter astonishment he recov- 
ered himself and found voice to speak. 

“Gentlemen,” he exclaimed in tones that expressed 
a well-bred surprise and annoyance, “this is a 
curious misapprehension! I assure you it is a case 
of mistaken identity. I am not the person whom 
you evidently think me to be. I have not the 
honor of knowing you, and indeed I never saw you 
before.” 

The gentlemen addressed looked blank in their turn 
for an instant ; then a derisive laugh swept around 
the circle. 

“ Hear ! hear ! ” cried two or three, applaudingly. 

“‘Mistaken identity’ — ‘not the person we think 
him to be! ’ ” echoed mockingly from lip to lip. 

“Didn’t we bid you good by, only four hours ago, 
fairly bowed down with grief because you assured 
us that you would be gone for two whole weeks? 


6 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


And now, here you are back again, like the prover- 
bial penny!” 

“ What do you mean ? ” demanded the newcomer 
with a perceptible increase of bewilderment and in- 
dignation. “I never was at the Clement House, 
never was in X before in my life 1 ” 

Upon this declaration the laughter and protests 
broke out afresh. 

Oh, I say. North, you Ve carried this far enough I ” 
cried the brilliant genius who had previously dis- 
tinguished himself. “Have you suddenly lost your 
senses, or do you imagine that we have all taken 
leave of ours ? It is no use, you know, your trying 
to deny your own identitjr, when here are a dozen 
of your daily associates and intimate friends all 
ready to swear to it.” 

“I assure you, gentlemen — ” the voice had the 
inflection of rising anger, but it was quickly drowned 
in the laughing comments of the others. 

“Come, come, North,” testily interposed the gentle- 
man with the eye-glasses, “youVe perjured yourself 
quite enough. Where’s the use, you know? You 
surely can ’t think of carrying this poor little farce 
any farther. Aren’t you Ollin North, attomey-at 
law ? Answer me that 1 ’ ’ 

“Allan North, attorney-at-law?” repeated the 
gentleman, an additional wave of perplexity sweep- 
ing over his face. “ Why, yes, to be sure I am ; but — ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


7 


A roar of laughter interrupted him. 

Well done, North! Capital! ” cried the applaud- 
ing crowd. “When are you going on the stage? 
That facial expression is fine! You’ll make your 
mark as a first-class comedian ! ” 

“Really, this is preposterous— I protest,” began 
the stranger rallying once more; when suddenly a 
voice thin and weak, but evidently the voice of one 
in authority, interposed. 

“What’s the circus,” lisped Colonel Dayton, the 
gentlemanly manager, as with his incongruous combi- 
nation of two hundred pounds avoirdupois and a 
small voice delicately pitched on the tone of C above, 
he advanced upon the scene. 

“Colonel Dayton, just look at this gentleman and 
tell us who he is!” cried a dozen laughing voices 
before the stranger could speak. 

“This gentleman ?” repeated the benign and aston- 
ished colonel, his round blue eyes roving over the 
group and then fixing themselves like two animated 
interrogation points upon North. “Why, you don’t 
say so — you here, Mr. North ? What ’s up ? Back to 
stay ? Concluded not to go east after all ? Nothing 
happened, I hope? ” For as he watched the face of 
the man whom he was addressing a growing per- 
plexity and uneasiness became apparent in the col- 
onel’s countenance and manner. 

“You would think something had happened. 


8 


A LIMLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


Colonel, if you could bear him talk. He is actually 
trying to make us believe that he never was at the 
Clement House before, and that he doesn’t know one 
of us ! What ’s your opinion of the case, Colonel — 
temporar^^ mental aberration? ” 

The good colonel stared curiously at North for an 
instant, then broke into a musical little laugh that 
shook him gently from head to foot. An expression 
of calm despair swept over North’s countenance as 
the notes of mirth were taken up and loudly echoed 
by the others. 

Suddenly checking himself in his laughter, possibly 
because of the expression he caught in North’s eye, 
the colonel coughed asthmatically for a moment, and 
drawing a large handkerchief from his pocket he 
mopped his flushed face with it, glancing furtively at 
North the while from behind the ambush of snowy 
cambric. He was still chuckling with suppressed 
merriment when he finally spoke again, as everyone 
was evidently waiting for him to do. 

“ That ’s not so bad now, gentlemen — not so bad ! ” 
declared the colonel, who had a happy appreciation 
of humor, however absurd or whimsical it might be, 
and an amiable habit of sympathizing with any non- 
sense that might be afloat. “Glad to see you here 
again, anyway, Mr. North. You ’ll have the same 
rooms again, I suppose? They have’nt been taken 
yet, you see. Kept ’em for you all this time ! ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


9 


This was said with renewed chuckling and an air 
of good-naturedly, though clumsily, carrying on the 
pleasantry that Mr. North had originated. 

‘‘Confound them all!” thought the latter in de- 
spair. “Whoever heard of such a case? How dare 
they dispute my word ? Oaths and protestations seem 
to have no more weight than a feather against their 
own stupid preconceived ideas. I begin to feel my 
reason tottering, my memory failing me I Where did 
I ever see these idiots before ? It’s all nonsense ; I 
never saw them in my life I And yet I am certainly 
Allan North, attorney-at-law. How could they know 
me so well if they had never seen me before? Was I 
here four hours ago ? Am I their old friend and com- 
rade? Or am I dreaming — bewitched? No, no! 
It is a case of mistaken identity ; I am clearly the un- 
happy victim of some other fellow’s good fortune — 
his strange and unaccountable resemblance to me. 
The same name, too; what a singular coincidence! 
Upon my word, this savors of comedy, and since it is 
forced upon me. I’ll take my role and see what I can 
make of it. I’m in the hands of these harmless lunatics 
who think they know who I am better than I do my- 
self; so I’ll humor them for the present. It’s a queer 
entanglement, but protestations are useless unless the 
other fellow should turn up and settle the question ; 
and, so far as I can see, the best thing for me to do is 
to drift with this tide which I have found it so im- 


10 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


possible to stem, and let the results take care of them- 
selves. It cannot do any harm. How could anyone 
blame me for it, under the circumstances ? And real- 
ly, I might as well combine a little innocent amuse- 
ment with the important business that calls me to 

X . Unless I am vastly mistaken, this promises 

to be the most diverting experience I ever happened 
upon!” 

This soliloquy flashed through North^s mind in a 
very brief time, during which he stood abstractedly 
in the center of the group whose chaffing remarks he 
only half heard or comprehended ; and as it reached 
this definite conclusion he resigned himself to his fate 
with a sense of reckless enjoyment. 

‘‘Certainly, Colonel,” he said, having caught the 
title, though the name of the gentlemanly manager 
had escaped him, “the same rooms, by all means. 
By the way, shall I register ? ” 

“As you please, Mr. North, as you please. When 
wi7/ you leave off jesting ? ” And the expression of 
vague uneasiness again appeared on Colonel Day t on ^s 
round, rosy face. “Just step into the office a minute, 
anyway. The clerk^s got a letter that was sent up 
after you left this morning. You didn’t tell us where 
your correspondence should be forwarded to, so we 
were in something of a puzzle to decide — ” the rest 
of the sentence was lost in the colonel’s puffing en- 
deavor to open the heavy swing-door. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


11 


Allan North, attorney-at-law, was glad to escape 
from the hilarious crowd on the hotel steps and fol- 
low the colonel into the office. But here another dif- 
ficulty confronted him, when a dainty missive bearing 
a lady’s chirography was placed in his hand. 

True, the envelope w'as addressed simply to “Mr. 
North, Clement House, City ; ” and was not he that 
gentleman ? 

But then, very probably at the time the letter was 
written he was not within one hundred miles of the 
Clement House, and had never even heard of the 
place. 

It may appear to the cool, dispassionate reader 
that North’s proper course at this point was too 
obvious to admit of any hesitation or mental debate. 
Nevertheless he did hesitate, and he did argue within 
himself what line of action he should adopt. Refuse 
to take the letter? That would give rise to renewed 
questions, explanations and ridicule which, in view 
of his late trying experiences, he did not wish to pro- 
voke. How would it do, for instance, — 

His reflections were suddenly arrested by the discov- 
ery that the envelope was not sealed. A vague sense 
of relief came to his mind, as if he now saw an easy 
and justifiable solution of the difficulty. 

“An oversight, of course,” he thought, still com- 
templating the creamy envelope that he held, from 
which arose a faint exquisite perfume as of withered 


12 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


rose leaves; ‘‘but there cannot be anything very pri- 
vate or personal about this correspondence, or the 
fair writer would not have been so careless. After 
all, whom is it for if not for me ? Who is the man 
whose perfect counterpart I seem to be? 

He paused in his speculations. A sudden suspicion 
darted like lightning into his mind, then as suddenly 
was dismissed. 

“Oh, no, that is impossible! ’’ he mentally declared 
the next instant. “Quite out of the question. And 
yet the name — No, no 1 It cannot be ! There must 
be some other explanation of the mystery. I will 
glance over this letter when I get to my room and 
see if it affords any clew to the solution.’^ 

With this decision he turned to the books and reg- 
istered in dashing but somewhat illegible characters : 

“A. North, New York.’’ 

“And now. Colonel,” he said, turning around to 
that gentleman, “where are you going to put me? ” 

“Where am I going to put you?” The colonel’s 
amazed countenance was a study as he repeated the 
question. “ What on earth are you thinking about, 
Mr. North? Your rooms are precisely as you left 
them this morning! Here Sam,” summoning a 
colored porter, “take Mr. North’s valise up to 54.” 

A few moments later North found himself in the 
suite assigned him, evidently the apartments of his 


A LITTLE COMELY OP ERRORS. 


13 


mysterious double. He proceeded with much curi- 
osity to survey his new domains. 

There was nothing in the appointments that espe- 
cially attracted his attention, except a large black 
walnut writing table. The many drawers that it 
contained were locked, as he discovered when he at- 
tempted to open them. The pigeonholes were empty ; 
a few books were ranged neatly beneath them. 
Everything indicated a careful preparation for the 
absence of the owner. 

Having ascertained that his surroundings were 
eminently non-committal, North surrendered himself 
once more to baffled speculations, which he pursued 
from the depths of a luxurious lounging-chair. 

“If a man is not what he thinks himself,’’ he be- 
gan, speaking aloud as he frequently did in soliloquy, 
“but what the world thinks him to be, then I am en- 
titled to the possession of this room, the use of all 
it contains, all the prerogatives of the rightful ten- 
ant. And yet I solemnly affirm that I never was in 
this deluded place before in the whole course of my 
natural existence ! Isn’t that a curious contradic- 
tion of facts and appearances ? However, this will 
all come out right some time. There is nothing so 
crooked that time cannot make it straight ; and why 
should I trouble myself about a misapprehension for 
which I am in no degree responsible? I will pursue 
the even tenor of my way, neither aggressively as- 


14 


A LIMLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


serting my own identity nor endeavoring to assume 
that of my mysterious double ; and then, come what 
may, the dear public, and not I, will be to blame. 

At this point in his soliloquy he suddenly recol- 
lected the letter in his pocket. 

“Ah ! ” he exclaimed, drawing it forth hastily, and 
once more examining the address, “this is one of the 
prerogatives! An open letter is supposed to be 
designed for the perusal of the general public. ‘ Mr. 
North, Clement House, City.’ Well, I am certainly 
that gentleman, so here goes 1 I shall see what my 
fair unknown correspondent has to say.” 

Very little, but entirely to the point, as he discov- 
ered on glancing hastily over these delicately traced 
lines : 

“Mrs. Maynard will be at borne this afternoon at two o’clock. 
Will it be convenient for Mr. North to call at that hour ? ” 

At the top of the sheet he now noticed the hand- 
somely engraved address: “No. 33 Delaplaine 
street.” 

“Maynard — Mrs. Maynard,” mused North ab- 
stractedly, dropping the hand that still held the per- 
fumed sheet in its listless grasp and frowning at the 
carpet as if he expected to find somewhere amid its 
warp and woof the thread that should unravel this 
mystery. “Where have I heard that name lately? 
It seems to me I ought to know. Two o’clock — 
‘this afternoon at two o’clock.’” He drew out his 


A LIMLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 15 

watch suddenly and consulted it. “It is now pre- 
cisely 12:30. H’m! ‘No. 33 Delaplaine street.’ 
(And pray, where may that be?) ‘Will it be con- 
venient’ (oh, very convenient, but how about the 
expediency?) ‘for Mr. North to call at that hour?’ 
Short and sweet ; and eminently unsatisfactory. No 
light whatever from this source. The mystery only 
grows deeper, my position more involved. Shall I 
call on Mrs. Maynard, or not? It would be a piece 
of unparalleled daring ! To go, or not to go ; that is 
the question ! ” 

He started to his feet with a sudden flash of reck- 
lessness in his eyes, and paced the floor for a few 
moments while be mentally debated this point ; then 
the question was settled. 

“ On the whole,” he said aloud, “I will go. Why 
not ? It will be merely carrying out the programme 
that I have already determined upon. I have com- 
menced to drift ; I might as well continue the ex- 
citing experiment. It is possible, indeed most proba- 
ble, that Mrs. Maynard will at once discover that I 
am not the particular Mr. North to whom her note 
was addressed ; but in that case I can make some 
sort of apology ; ‘note fell into my hands b}^ mistake; 
carelessness of the clerk ; same name ; very amusing 
coincidence,’ and so on, and thus bow myself grace- 
fully out of the affair. But if, on the other hand, she 
should share the popular misapprehension as to my 


16 A LIMLE COMEBV OP ERRORS. 

identity, why then I’ll— be guided by circumstan- 
ces!” 

He paused now before his valise, which the porter 
had deposited on a chair; and, opening it, commenced 
unpacking and tossing its contents carelessly on the 
bed. Among other items a rather formidable-looking 
memorandum-book, bound in Russia leather, came 
to light. As his eye fell upon it, a sudden inspiration 
seemed to seize him. 

“Something is certain to come of this ridiculous 
affair,” he said to himself, taking up the note-book, 
and also pen and ink which he had in convenient port- 
able shape, “so 1 will just make a little note of what 
has already occurred. It may be the significant be- 
ginning of important and interesting events.” 

With this reflection he established himself at the 
writing-table and commenced to record in the pages 
of his note-book the thrilling experiences that he had 
just passed through. 

Allan North had a phenomenally treacherous mem- 
ory which, instead of strengthening it by a wise re- 
course to one or all of the popular memory systems 
now in vogue, he had unconsciously weakened still 
further by an habitual subserviency to note-book and 
pencil. Possessing a certain sense of humor, a fluent 
style of expression, and the leisure that enabled him 
to exercise his literary talents, he frequently elabo- 
rated his daily notes beyond the mere jotting down of 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


17 


facts which it was important for him to remember. 
If you, dear reader, could have deciphered the hasti- 
ly scrawled pages preceding the entry upon which he 
was now engaged, you would have found them to 
read thus : 

Monday . — Was in court this morning for the first 
time since the Dunkirk will case was called. Found 
things in statu quo. Hopkins and Shepherd both out 
of town. Possibly after that missing witness who 
still continues non est inventus. Suspect she’s a myth. 
Hunter and Ketchum both jubilant. Say they are 
sure of winning. Hope they will ; credit of the offiee 
at stake. Thus far no trace of that missing niece. 
Query : Is she a myth, too ? 

Tuesday . — Startling developments in the Dun- 
kirk case to-day. Will proven to be a forgery. Hop- 
kins and Shepherd evidently had no hand in it. They 
were both considerably taken aback when this fact 
was established by the experts, and they telegraphed 
at once to the claimant’s confidential legal adviser — 
odd that I never happened to hear him spoken of by 
name — to find out what it all means. In my opinion 
they would better send a deteetive after him. I’ll 
stake my last cigar (the one I smoked last, I mean) 
that the fair claimant and her confidential legal ad- 
viser — who, by the way, has wisely kept at a safe 
distance from New York during this investigation — 
will prove to be the persons who forged that docu- 


18 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


ment. Hunter and Ketchum are still advertising 
for information concerning Annie Dupont, the niece 
and sole heir-at-law. No result, thus far. Mean- 
while, there is a fine little case of forgery to be inves- 
tigated. Already the inside theories are being woven, 
and, if I mistake not, there will be some interesting 
developments in the case before many days. 

“ Wednesday. — Here’s a state of things ! Hunter 
and Ketchum have to-day received a communication 
from a man calling himself Dennis O’Reilly (doesn’t 

that savor of the Emerald Isle?) living in X , a 

city of considerable importance in the wild west, 
who — ^the Irishman, I mean — claims to be in posses- 
sion of facts that will lead to the discovery and 
identification of Annie Dupont. For my part I have 
no faith in the story ; but H. and K. think the matter 
is worth investigating, and they have proposed that 

I go at once to X , find this man and follow up 

his clew if it should prove to be worth anything. 
The prospect is rather enlivening, and, as it happens, 
my professional engagements are not so numerous or 
exacting just now as to interfere with my absenting 
myself from the olfice. Prosecuted a case of assault 
and battery yesterday, and sent defendant to jail. 
Don’t know whether he was guilty or not. Suspect 
not ; but I proved that he was, and that was the end 
of it. And now, inflamed by that grand success, my 
voice is still for war I Wish I could get hold of some- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF EKl O ^S. 


19 


thing sensational, something really worthy of my 
attention. Assault and battery ! I blush to write 
the words. Are my talents to be dissipated, my 
nerve and brain tissues to be worn out pursuing 
such paltry game as that ? The fates forbid ! There 
must be some higher destiny in store for me. Per- 
haps this mission to X will furnish me the sen- 

sational experiences that I long for. I think I’ll 
start to-morrow. My constitution demands a slight 
change of air and scenery, and the trip will no doubt 
be of great benefit to me, though whether anything 
of importance to business interests will result there- 
from is somewhat problematical.” 

Immediately after this came North’s latest entry : 

Friday noon . — At X . Just got here. Quite a 

breezy, wide-awake little city inhabited by a set of 
harmless and amusing lunatics. Their first mani- 
festation of eccentricity was to insist that I am some 
other fellow, who oddly enough bears my illustrious 
name, follows my honorable profession, looks like 
me, and, as the final link in this astonishing chain of 
coincidences, although out of town at this present 
writing, boards at the very hotel at which I am 
stopping. Tried to convince them of their mistake. 
No use. Average mind not open to conviction. 
Finally decided to let them have their own way 
about it, and am therefore going to play my role in 
this comedy of errors as Antipholus of Syracuse, un- 


20 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

less Antipholus of Ephesus steps in prematurely and 
defeats my purpose. Must hunt up Dennis O’Reilly. 
Forlorn hope. Don’t know where to look for him. 
Probably digging ditches somewhere. H. and K. 
must have been crazy to pay any attention to his 
communication. 

‘‘iVote Extraordinary (made five minutes after ar- 
rival, after the manner of English tourists visiting 
the states).— People of X are very sociably in- 

clined. Circumstances offered in evidence: I find 
here on the instant of my arrival a note from one 
Mrs. Maynard, evidently a lady moving in aristo- 
cratic circles, inviting me to call upon her at two 
o’clock this afternoon. No references required. In- 
vitation downright and unconditional. In spite of 
the embarrassing fact that I have never had the 
honor of meeting the lady aforesaid, and have not 
the slightest idea where she lives, I have decided that 
it will not be politic to slight the very first invitation 
extended to me here, and I am therefore intending to 
call upon the said Mrs. Maynard, of No. 33 Dela- 
plaine street at the hour and place aforesaid. Have a 
vague hope that she may be able to throw some 
light upon the present mystery of my identity. If 
she decides that I am myself, the verdict of the gen- 
eral public will be immediately set aside. If she in 
sists that I am the other fellow, I will humbly bow 
to the decision. Capital idea! Saves me all further 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


21 


responsibility in the matter. Interesting psycholog- 
ical question. Not exactly a case of Jekyll and 
Hyde, but rather suggests the query whether a man 
may not have two separate and distinct personalities 
without being at all aware of it until someone else 
discovers the fact for him. On second thought, I am 
not sure but the real question is, whether or not a 
man can be in two different places at one and the 
same time. Pshaw ! No use in wearying my brain 
with these airy speculations. My first duty is to 
find out who I really am. With that point once 
clearly and indisputably settled (by Mrs. Maynard), 
all these minor questions will take care of themselves. 
I think my prospects for innocent amusement here 
look promising. As to business, can’t tell yet. Shall 
reserve judgment on that point until I have had an 
interview with Mr. O’Reilly.” 

It was at this point that North closed his book, 
threw down his pen and consulted his watch again. 
As the immediate result of this latter proceeding he 
started up with the audible exclamation : 

One o’clock ! I must be expeditious if I expect to 
be at Mrs. Maynard’s at the appointed hour. I 
shall do my best to make a good impression; all in 
the other fellow’s interests, of course ! I suspect that 
I’m pretty well acquainted at No. 33; note sounds a 
little that way. I wonder upon what action this 
summons is based ? Nothing whatever in the writ 


22 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

to indicate that. ‘Mrs. Maynard will beat home at 
two o^clock. Will it be convenient for Mr. North to 
call at that hour ? ’ ” 


CHAPTER II. 


Ant. S. ; — There's not a man I meet but doth salute me, 

As if I were their well acquainted friend ; 

And everyone doth call me by my name. 

— Comedy of Errors. 


At half-past one o’clock Allan North reappeared on 
the hotel portico. The number of idlers there had 
diminished considerably during the past half hour; 
only Colonel Dayton and the gentleman with the 
eye-glasses remaining of the original group. 

The latter, tipped back in a chair with his feet ele- 
vated to the top of the veranda railing, was en- 
veloped in a cloud of fragrant cigar smoke, which he 
contemplated with as much complacency as if it had 
been a halo of glory. The colonel, seated beside him 
with a newspaper spread out before him, was pro- 
claiming aloud to his rather inattentive auditor the 
news of the day, foreign, domestic and local. 

*‘Ha! Mr. North,” he exclaimed, coming to a full 
stop in his reading, “ are you off again ? ” 

‘‘ For a short .time. Colonel,” answered North, paus- 

33 


24 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


ing on the steps to give a final smoothing down to 
his gloves. 

The gentleman with the eye-glasses took his cigar 
from his teeth, cleared away the encircling smoke 
and turned toward North with a half sneering 
scrutiny. 

“I say,’’ he suddenly demanded, the idle curiosity 
in his expression changing to selfish interest, “are 
you going to the office ? ” 

North lifted his eyebrows slightly; a comment en- 
tirely for his own benefit. 

Perhaps he had an office, and a practice that would 
be likely to make some demand upon his attention. 
Might not that be a trifle aNvkward? 

“Well,” he said to himself, “this cannot go on for- 
ever, I shall either succeed in establishing my own 
identity, or be taken in charge by the commissioners 
in lunacy, before I have been many hours in X !” 

Then, aloud : 

“To the office? ” he repeated in a leisurely way, as 
as if he were mentally debating the question. “I 
had n’t thought of it. Why?” 

“Oh, I was merely intending to ask you, if you 
were going there, to take a message to Morris. No 
consequence. I shall probably get down there in 
time to catch him myself. You know he takes that 
trespass case into court this afternoon. I’m waiting 
now to see Woods, who promised to meet me here at 


A Li'TTLE Comedy of Errors. 


25 


one o’clock. He’s late, as usual — confound him! 
Any idea where you are going, North? ” 

Also, he had not! But he smiled serenely as he 
answered with reckless candor : 

“Why, yes, my dear fellow; I may as well tell you 
that I am due at No. 33 Delaplaine street at two 
o’clock.” 

“Indeed!” No surprise, but considerable signifi- 
cance in this dry rejoinder. 

“Do you know where that is?” pursued North 
with amiable sociability, thinking the while that if 
so, he envied the gentleman with the eye-glasses the 
information. 

“Where what is? No. 33 Delaplaine street?” de- 
manded that gentleman with a blank stare. “Good 
heavens, man, how long do you intend to keep up 
this role of idiot? Wasn’t it I that first introduced 
you there, I’d like to know? ” 

“Perhaps it was-,” admitted North, nonchalantly. 

“It might have been, for anything that I am pre- 
pared to say to the contrary,” he added mentally as 
he stood for a moment pulling his mustache in a med- 
itative way and glancing with a puzzled air up and 
down the street. 

“I say. North, have you taken to low comedy as a 
permanent thing ?” continued the aggrieved posses- 
sor and wearer of the eye-glasses. “It’s a shock, 


26 


A comedy oe errors. 


even to me, to see you degenerating so suddenly into 
the character of a clown.” 

“ I can vary it with high tragedy,” said North ac- 
commodatingly as he went down the steps, “if that 
will suit you any better, my dear fellow. Aurevoir! ” 

And with a delightful sense of uncertainty as to 
whither he was tending, he started slowly down the 
street. 

He had not proceeded very far when he was 
arrested by the colonel’s facetious exclamation : 

“I say, Mr. North, are you walking in your sleep? 
Delaplaine street isn’t down that way, you know ! ” 

North whirled around composedly and retraced his 
steps. 

“Will you be kind enough to tell me, then, my dear 
Colonel,” he said, “where Delaplaine street is? I 
give you my word that I have not the faintest idea.” 

And, pausing by the steps as he muttered this 
astonishing confession of ignorance, he looked up at 
the colonel with innocent perplexity depicted in his 
countenance. 

“Mr. North, what is the matter with you?” de- 
manded Colonel Dayton, in whose round, astonished 
eyes North read not a little dismay and suspicion. 

“Nothing at all. Colonel, except the difficulty that 
I have mentioned,” returned North reassuringly. 
“The case is as plain as a pikestaff. I wish to go to 
Delaplaine street, and I have not the faintest idea 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


27 


where Delaplaine street is. Now, is not that a coin- 
cidence that appeals to your helpful sympathies ? 

“Are you sure, Mr. North, — quite sure, you know, — ” 
ventured the colonel, nervously apprehensive lest 
he might not put the case with sufficient delicacy, 
“that you are in a — exactly a condition, you know, 
to call on a lady ? ” 

North’s first impulse was to resent this imputa- 
tion ; then he reflected how much ground there was 
for the colonel’s suspicion, and amusement became 
uppermost in his feelings. He smiled as he answered : 

“Oh, yes. Colonel, I am perfectly sure of that.” 

“Well,” said the colonel, still with the air of one 
who darkly suspected that he was being imposed upon, 
“you go up Main street, ten squares beyond the 
court-house, and then turn into Delaplaine street at 
your left. And if I had a silver dollar for every time 
that you ’ve been over that route in the last three 
years, I ’d be a rich man ! ” he added, with a reproach- 
ful scowl as he drew his brows together and looked 
down sharply at North, “Think you can make out, 
now, how to g t there 

“Oh, I think 1 snail have no difficulty now. Colonel, 
thank you.” And with a wave of his hand North 
turned away again. 

“Why didn’t you let him go on in the first place ? ” 
snarled the gentleman with the eye-glasses, before 
North was beyond the reach of his voice. “Perhaps 


28 A LITTLE COMELY OE EREOES. 

you had better send a small boy along to show 
him the road ! The fellow has been either drunk or 
as crazy as Hamlet ever since he got back this morn- 
ing. What to make of him I do n’t know, I’m sure ! ” 
“Don’t try to make anything of me, my amiable 
friend,” murmered North under his breath as he pro- 
ceeded up the street, “and then you’ll not have a 
crushing failure to stagger under. It is indeed a critel 
fate which compels me to enter upon my career in 
X with such damaging suspicions afloat concern- 

ing my sanity, or my moral character ; they seem to 
be about equally involved in doubt. However, my 
triumphant vindication must come in the natural 
course of events. When the colonel has had full op- 
portunity to observe the poetic beauty and innocence 
of my daily life, he will doubtless acknowledge that 
he has done me a cruel injustice. Let me see now, 
where am I ? This is probably Main street ; they us- 
ually bestow that name upon the most insignificant 
thoroughfare in the city. ‘ Ten blocks beyond the 
court house,’ that ought to be a good landmark. 
Why in the name of the city fathers don’t they have 
the names of the streets on the lamp-posts ? Under 
the impression, no doubt, that everyone whose con- 
venience is worth considering was born and brought 
up in X , and consequently, is well up in the ge- 

ography of the place. No policemen, either, so far as 
I have been able to observe ; how is a stranger to 


A LITTLE COMEDY uE ERRORS. 


29 


get anywhere, or to know it when he does get there? 

Verily, X is the City of Magnificent Disadvantc - 

ges ! ” 

There was one thing that especially impressed 

North, during this first public appearance in X ; 

his own unmistakable popularity. Almost everyone 
on the street seemed to know him, and he received 
the most enthusiastic greetings on every side. He 
responded to them all with a suppressed hilarity, the 
cause of which was known only to himself, entering 
with reckless enjoyment into the masquerade which 
evidently no one else suspected. 

“Really, I have a host of friends in X , a city in 

which I never set foot before ! I wonder if this well- 
fitting mantle of ready-made popularity is warranted 
not to fade nor shrink? ” he mused, as, having trav. 
ersed the ten squares beyond the court-house, he 
turned into a beautiful wide street at his left, and 
then halted on the corner with the calm deliberation 
of one that views the landscape o’er. 

“Well, here I am; but where? Ah, that is the 
question ! I wonder, now, if that ragged little urchin 
whom I see approaching will recognize me ? Oh, he ’s 
a newsboy; I might buy a paper from him, and 
then-” 

“Paper, sir ? ” inquired the diminutive tatterdemal- 
ion, drawing near and thrusting a large local sheet 
into North’s face with unblushing confidence ; then 

.3 


30 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


as he scanned the gentleman’s features more closely, 
he added with a grin ol recognition, ^‘yer’ll take a 
Times, won’t yer, Mr. North? Yer alwers does! ” 

‘ ‘ By Jove 1 ” thought North, ‘ ‘ even the newsboys and 
ragamuffins are mine own familiar acquaintances I 
Who am I, that I should thus be public property? ” 

He mechanically accepted the paper that was 
thrust into his hand and addressed the urchin in a 
sweet persuasive tone : 

“My boy, is this Delaplaine street?” 

The newsboy stared at him in open-mouthed aston- 
ishment, and did not answer until the question had 
been repeated with a perceptible diminution of the 
persuasive sweetness and a corresponding accession 
of authoritative sharpness. 

“Yes, sir, it’s Delaplaine street,” he then said, with 
a grin; and North, after bestowing a handful of 
nickels on his small interlocutor, turned away and 
started slowly in the direction that the numbers on 
the houses indicated that he should take. 

The newsboy gazed after him for a moment, fully 
expecting to see him reel along the pavement or run 
into one of the many shade-trees or lamp-posts. Dis- 
appointed in this cherished hope, as the gentleman con- 
tinued calmly on his way with no perceptible indecision 
of step, no difficulty in maintaining his equilibrium, no 
misunderstanding with the surrounding inanimate ob- 
jects, the boy pursued his way soliloquizing audibly : 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


31 


“My eye! If that 'ere Mr. North ain’t a queer 
chap! ” 

“Very fine street,” ran North’s soliloquy, as he 
sauntered down the broad pavement of flagstones 
bounded by smoothly-cut grass and tall shade trees 
on one side and ornamental iron fences, small 
parterres and stately residences on the other. “My 
friend Mrs. Maynard is undoubtedly something of an 
aristocrat, judging from her surroundings. By the 
way, what does she want with me? ” 

He stopped short here, as the fact suddenly occurred 
to him that the lady in question did not want any- 
thing of him. He laughed aloud in his amusement at 
the thought. 

“Could I become involved in serious consequences 
by this masquerade?” he presently asked himself. 

“No, I don’t believe I’m liable. How can I be? I 
might be charged with false pretenses; and yet, 
what false pretenses have I made? By all the tradi- 
tions of my family I’m Allan North, and that is all that 
I’ve yet claimed to be. People all call me by my name 
as if they never doubted my right to be thus desig- 
nated. If there is any man in X or elsew'here who 

has a better right to that name than I have, let him 
bring forward his claim, with vouchers thereof, with- 
out delay ! True, I never was in X , never saw 

one of these people before in my life; but what does 
all this amount to ? I am driven back to my original 


32 


A LITT^K COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


resolution. I will drift a little longer. I am sure to 
come out somewhere, if only on the rocks of destruc- 
tion. Mrs. Ma^mard is my present hope. We shall 
see whether she will set matters straight or compli- 
cate them still further.” 

He walked on slowly for a few moments, glancing 
up at the numbers on the houses until he came to 33. 

Pausing with his gloved hand resting on the iron 
gate in front of the residence bearing that number, 
he swept a hasty but critical glance over the place. 

It was a small detached villa, evidently the abode 
of wealth. The mansion, a picturesque structure of 
brown stone, with balconies and bay windows half 
buried in ivy, stood back with a stately exclusive air 
in the midst of towering elms. A straight, wide 
pavement of flagstones led directly from the gate to 
the terraced steps ; on either side lay a velvety lawn 
ornamented with trees and shrubbery and fount- 
ains. 

“ ‘No. 33 Delaplaine street, ’ and here it is, ’’reflected 
North, as he lingered unaccountably at the gate. 
“Let me see! ” He drew out his watch and glanced 
hastily at it. “Two, exactly. I am punctual to the 
second. I wonder if such rare promptitude is one of 
the shining virtues of the individual whom I am so 
strangely personating? Nonsense! I believe I am 
growing nervous. It will never do to show the white 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


38 


feather now. Having undertaken to make this call, 

I will persevere to the end ! ” 

He had entered the gate, walked up the wide pave- 
ment, ascended the steps of terrace and veranda, 
and rung the bell by the time he had finished these 
reflections. He just had time to smooth bis gloves 
and settle his snowy cuffs, adjust his coat, stroke his 
mustache affectionately and compose his features in- 
to an agreeable smile, when the door swung noise- 
lessly open and a deferential old footman stood bow- 
ing low before him. 

*‘Is Mrs. Maynard at home? inquired North with 
the calm, assured air of a friend of the family. 

“She is, sir. Will you please walk in, sir? ” 

North walked in, as a matter of course. That was 
a recognized part of his programme. He was con- 
ducted through a dim, elegantly appointed hall, and 
ushered into a still more dim, elegantly appointed 
drawing-room, and there left to the tender mercies of 
the darkness and the furniture with the cheering in- 
formation that Mrs. Maynard was expecting him 
and would be down soon. 

“Confoundedly dark place!” grumbled North, as he 
groped his way to the nearest chair. “If daylight is 
too expensive a luxury here, why donT they light 
the gas? IVe a great mind to suggest it to my 
friend Mrs. Maynard, only I’m afraid she might not 
receive the suggestion in the same kindly spirit in 


34 


A LITTLE COMELY OE ERRORS. 


which it was offered. Oh, I donff exactly enjoy this, 
after all ! It looks like carrying the thing too far. 
I believe I’ll conduct myself with a certain degree of 
eccentricity, so that in case of detection I can plead 
emotional insanity as my excuse. ‘Singular Freak 
of an Insane Man.’ ‘Harmless Vagaries of a Luna- 
tic.’ That’s the way the reporters would write up 
the affair. Heigh ho ! here she comes.” 


CHAPTER III. 


Ant. S .: — Known unto these, and to myself disguised I 
I’ll say as they say, and persevere so. 

And in this mist at all adventures go ! 

— Comedy of Errors. 


The soft rustle of silken garments announced the 
approach of Mrs. Maynard. It drew nearer, and 
with noiseless step the lady herself swept into the 
drawing-room. 

North, whose eyes had by this time become accus- 
tomed to the dim twilight, rose at once with a 
formal bow. To his surprise he found that his nerves 
were a little unsteady, his pulses beating a little more 
rapidly than usual. Could it be that he was excited ? 
The critical moment had come. He knew that with- 
in the next few seconds his decision must be made. 
If he were to retreat from the reckless course that he 
had meditated, it must be in the very moment of 
greeting Mrs. Maynard ; but granting that he made 
this c loice, what acceptable excuse could he offer for 
reading a note which he was morally certain was not 
intended for his perusal, and accepting an invitation 

35 


36 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


which it was equally certain had never been extended 
to him ? 

This question which, strange to say, occurred to 
him now quite for the first time, produced a most 
paralyzing effect upon him, and for the moment de- 
prived him of the power of speech or action. It 
might almost be argued in his defense that he was 
not responsible for what immediately followed, for 
as he stood there in this state of fascinated indecision 
Mrs. Maynard unconsciously turned the wavering 
scale, in which, nicely balanced, his line of action lay, 
by uttering his name in tones of welcome and hold- 
ing out her hand to him cordially. It was a small 
white hand with a solitaire ring sparkling on one 
finger, — he noticed that in a vague sort of way, — and 
it rested in his hand as lightly as a snowflake. 

North realized then that in his moment of hesita- 
tion he was lost; he therefore gave himself up to an 
interesting study of Mrs. Maynard and a panic- 
stricken wonder how best to adapt his manner and 
conversation to the peculiar situation in which he 
had placed himself. 

The first consideration was easily disposed of. 
Accustomed to arriving swiftly at conclusions, he 
summed up Mrs. Maynard in one rapid glance. Age 
uncertain ; something between twenty-five and thirty ; 
height a little above the medium ; figure graceful and 
willowy; hair pale golden, exquisitely fine and wavy; 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. BT 

eyes large, dark and brilliant; features regular and 
delicately colorless; manner vivacious and slightly 
imperious. A little spoiled and willful, perhaps, but 
only delightfully so. 

Her gown was of black silk, with a profusion of 
fine white lace about the corsage, which relieved the 
somber effect and seemed to give a peculiar brilliancy 
to her eyes. That faint exquisite perfume like hot- 
house roses, whieh he had notieed when he read her 
note, hung about her like an intangible presence. There 
was an indescribable daintiness about her that gave a 
peculiar charm to her beauty ; yet with all this soft- 
ness and beauty one could not fail to perceive that 
she possessed some strong and decided points of char- 
acter. Invincible pride and force of will — these two 
traits were plainly revealed beneath all the eh arm of 
a sweet and gracious exterior. 

Had North been very susceptible to feminine at- 
tractions he might have lost his heart to Mrs. May- 
nard at first sight, as others had so often done. 
But a certain cold, flippant cynicism which he had 
been cultivating for the past few years with eonsider- 
able success, saved him from this fate. He had once 
loved a beautiful girl with all the strength and fervor 
of his soul, had believed in her with his wdiole heart, 
and had been trifled with — deceived ! There was 
no danger that his heart would ever be captured 
again. 


38 A Li'fTLE Comedy oE errors. 

Still, Mrs. Maynard interested him, under the cir- 
cumstances, and he therefore subjected her to his un- 
obtrusive but critical observation. 

Their eyes met directly for an instant after their 
first salutations, and during that instant North 
fancied that he could perceive a swift and subtile 
change come over her. He could not have defined the 
change any more than he could have accounted for 
it. He only knew that a sudden little shadow flitted 
over her face, a sudden little chill came into her man- 
ner, a curious mingling of surprise, annoyance and 
perplexity took the place of the frank cordiality with 
which she at first greeted him. She seemed to lose 
her self-possession for a moment, and her first words, 
though evidently intended to be light and careless, 
were spoken with a nervous rapidity that quite be- 
trayed her. 

‘‘How very kind in you, Mr. North, to be so punct- 
ual!’^ she exclaimed as she sank gracefully into a 
low easy-chair and waved him back to his seat. “I 
really have not a moment this afternoon that I can 
call my own, but I thought I must see you, if only to 
say two words. The Ladies’ Guild, of which I am so 
unfortunate as to be president, is to meet with me for 
a special session of closed doors, and already several of 
the members have arrived, so you see, I shall have 
just five minutes to devote to you — or rather, I shall 
detain you only for that time. You understand, of 


A LI'TTL^ COMEt)Y OE ERRORS. 


39 


course, why I sent for you?^^ with a swift question- 
ing glance at him, a slight trace of anxiety in her 
manner. 

North gravely assented and endeavored to look 
wise. 

‘‘Of course,’’ he said to himself, with his usual facil- 
ity for quieting his own conscience, “she sent for me 
because she wanted to see me. Isn’t that clear 
enough ? Anyone might understand that ! ” 

“I mean,” added Mrs. Maynard, with a curious 
effect of measuring her words with difficulty because 
of her -usual habit of speaking impulsively and un- 
guardedly, “you understood my — anxiety? ” 

She hesitated again and seemed to be waiting for 
him to speak. As he could do nothing, however, but 
assent to her remarks with a wise non-committal 
air, she resumed with sudden vivacity : 

“Were you verj^ much disappointed last evening, 
Mr. North? I was so provoked when Williams told 
me that you had called. What is that very impor- 
tant com munication that you wished to make ? I as- 
sure you, I have been in a perfect flutter of curiosity 
ever since Williams gave me your message.” 

Here was swift retribution, truly ! North frantic- 
ally regretted that moment of indecision that had 
been his undoing. Everything danced before his eyes 
for an instant as he dizzily sought in the recesses of his 
mind for some plausible means of extricating himself 


40 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


from this embarrassing dilemma. He had gone alto- 
gether too far now to think of retreating precipitately 
and acknowledging the daring personation that he 
had attempted; there was positively no alternative 
but to face the situation coolly and make the best 
of it. 

“ Oh, really, Mrs. Maynard,’’ hesaid, affecting great 
negligence, “Williams must have drawn upon his 
imagination a little, I think. To be sure, he may 
have fancied that my errand was very pressing, but 
in fact, don’t you know, it is nothing of importance, 
after all. I am sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. May- 
nard, but, really, I gave Williams no special message 
at all.” 

“Oh, indeed! Then he probably misunder tood,” 
the lady rejoined with a thoughtful air ; but North 
nervously fancied that she was by no means satisfied 
in her own mind that he was telling her the truth, 
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 

“I was so confident,” she went on presently, “that 
you had received some important word from New 
York. Have you really heard nothing, Mr. North? ” 

“Not onesyllable,” declared North solemnly, thank- 
ful for the ability to keep at least within the letter of 
the truth without compromising his safety. 

“That is very strange, indeed ! ” exclaimed Mrs. 
Maynard ; then after a thoughtful little pause, last- 
ing perhaps five seconds, she added gayly : 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE' ERRORS. 


41 


“However, I shall not repine until I have greater 
cause than this. I am certainly learning all the bit- 
terness of hope deferred ; but what else can I expect, 
pray ? You lawyers are such a tedious set, with 
your ‘red tape ’ and ‘legal processes,’ and strange 
and mysterious adjournments, and your thousand- 
and-one ingenious inventions to camse delay; really, 
to an uninitiated person like myself, it is simply mar- 
velous how long a case can be dragged out after it 
once gets into the courts! No, Mr. North, don’t be- 
gin an eloquent defense of your professional guild ; 
they don’t deserve it, and T have no time to listen, if 
they did. I had two distinct objects, aside from my 
natural curiosity about that very important com- 
munication which you now evince such a perverse 
determination to withhold from me, in asking you to 
call this afternoon. In the first place, I wish to re- 
mind you of the expediency of keeping from the major 
all knowledge of these new investigations that we 
are about to institute. You know the poor dear ' 
major’s peculiarities ? ” 

This with an inquiring elevation of the delicate 
brows, a deprecating curve of the delicate lips. 

North aSvSented with two or three grave and com- 
prehending nods, as if to say: “Thisis between our- 
selves, and is perfectly understood. No further words 
are necessary.” 

“Wonder if one of these self-same peculiarities is an 


42 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


interesting habit of listening at the doors?” he 
mused. “One would fancy so, from the cautious 
way she lowers her voice. By Jove! I wish I were 
well out of this ! What will come next, in the way 
of startling developments ? ” 

“You know,” Mrs. Maynard continued in the same 
sweet, guarded tone, breaking in upon North’s medi- 
tations, “how persistently he has opposed me all 
through this affair. He has a perfectly unreasonable 
horror of litigation, as well as a strong desire to 
thwart and annoy me, and he tried in every way to 
prevent me from urging my claim in the first place. 
Of course, I am not in the habit of allowing myself 
to be guided by Major Maynard’s advice in matters 
of any personal interest or importance; still, har- 
mony in the household is something that one is will- 
ing to purchase at almost any cost, and in this case, 
really, Mr. North, if it had not been for your profes- 
sional advice, and your resolutely taking affairs into 
your own hands and assuming the whole legal re- 
sponsibility for me, I have no doubt that I should 
have yielded to his prejudices and allowed my in- 
terests to be sacrificed, just to preserve the peace 1 ” 

She sighed faintly as she spoke, leaning back in her 
chair with her eyes downcast. 

North’s countenance wore a disturbed expression 
during the interval of silence that ensued. 

“ This looks alarmingly like the domestic skeleton ! ’ ’ 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


43 


he thought, almost shrugging his shoulders in his 
dismay. “With what charming naiVete she alludes 
to her differences with the major! If I could have 
foreseen that 1 should have to play the rd/e of sym- 
pathizing friend in a cast in which a tyrannical hus- 
band and a beautiful injured wife were the other lead- 
ing characters, I should scarcely have had the temeri- 
ty to come here at all. With what a matter-of-course 
air she refers to this delicate subject, as if she had fre- 
quently discussed it with me. I don’t understand it. 
A lady might possibly make her spiritual ad viser the 
confident of such troubles, but does she also pour 
them into thesympatheticear of her lawyer? If such 
be the general custom, then the Fates preserve me 
from becoming that most unhappy of all luckless 
mortals, some fair lady’s confidential legal adviser I ” 

At this point in his reflections the door-bell rang, 
and a gay murmur of ladies’ voices was heard in 
the hall. 

Mrs. Maynard started up with a little gesture of 
annoyance, and North, perceiving his opportunity, 
rose at once to take leave of her. 

“I fear that I am encroaching on your time, Mrs. 
Maynard,” he said. “I had no idea that I was stay- 
ing so long.” Alas for North’s veracity! He had 
never before endured a period of time that seemed so 
interminable. 

“It is really provoking, Mr. North,” said Mrs. 


44 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Maynard, “ after you have taken the trouble to call 
at this hour, that we should have so little time to 
talk.” 

“Oh, it was no trouble at all, Mrs. Maynard,” 
protested North with an air of light gallantry, “I 
esteem it a great honor and privilege to see you even 
for this brief time.” 

He imagined that his flippant speech would be ac- 
cepted with the same lightness with which it was 
uttered. Instead of this he perceived that as he 
spoke a shadow of displeasure clouded Mrs. May- 
nard’s face and something like disdain curved the 
proud lips. Only for an instant; she recovered her- 
self quickly and rejoined with a gay little laugh: 

“Ah, you wretched flatterer ! How often have you 
made that pretty speech? Good-by! No, wait! I 
had almost forgotten; I have found that missing 
letter of which I told you once. You know you 
urged me yesterday to renew my search for it, as it 
might prove to be of some value as evidence. Don’t 
stop to read it now, but examine it at your leisure 
and^ then tell me the result of your deliberations. Ah, 
Mrs. Huntingdon— pray excuse me, Mr. North! — I am 
so delighted to see you! No, the library, dear; this 
way, please.” 

And Mrs. Maynard had vanished, leaving North 
standing at the drawing-room door with the letter 
that she had given him still in his hand. He was 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


45 


looking at it with almost as much dismay as if it 
had been a package of dynamite. Finally, in a me- 
chanical way, as if he were acting more from the 
pressure of circumstances than from any clear pur- 
pose in his own mind, he put the envelope into his 
pocket and made his escape somewhat precipitately 
from the house. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Brutus : — Oh that a man might know 

The end of this day’s business ere it comei 
But it sufficeth that the day will end. 

And then the end is known. 

— Julius Csesar. 


Absorbed in his mental review of this call on Mrs. 
Maynard, Allan North, instead of retracing his steps 
over the route by which he had come, turned aimless- 
ly into an intersecting business street; and by the 
time he awakened to this fact he was a long distance 
from Delaplaine street or any other locality with 
which he was in the slightest degree familiar. 

“Well, where am 1?’^ he asked himself as he 
paused irresolutely on a corner and looked about 
him in every direction, “lhave not the slightest 
idea how I am to find my hotel. I never was more 
completely lost in my life. It was very stupid in me 
to wander away from Delaplaine street ; but if my 
confused recollection of the past few moments is at all 
correct, I have been turning corners with a reckless 
persistency that deprives me of all hope of ever find- 
ing my way back to that aristocratic thoroughfare, 

46 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


47 


As I cannot stand here all night, I really see no alter- 
native but to keep moving.” 

He started on slowly, and his mind wandered back 
to his interrupted train of meditations. 

“She quite interests me,” he mused, perhaps for the 
fiftieth time, while his brows contract^., with a 
puzzled frown. “Maynard — Mrs. Maynard; why 
is it that the name seems so familiar to me ? It has 
been half suggesting something to me ever since I 
read her note. It appears that she has become en- 
tangled in a law-suit. I wonder what is the nature 
of the difficulty? It furthermore appears that the 
major (Query: Who is the major?) is inclined to 
make trouble, and the lady and her lawyer are con- 
sequently obliged to circumvent the old fellow. 
Rather interesting situation — for the lawyer ! She’s 
quite young, and very beautiful. I wonder if she is 
likewise in love with me ? It looks tremendously 
like it. Pshaw! Of course I mean with the other fel- 
low. By the way, I ought to be hunting up Dennis 
O’Reilly. As a matter of fact, that is what I am here 
for. I wonder if his name is in the directory? Just 
like a blundering idiot to forget to give his address I 
Now, suppose I step into this drug-store — there’s an 
accommodating-looking man in the door — and glance 
over their directory. And then if it should so chance 
that the man doesn’t know me, though that is almost 
too much to expect, I can venture to inquire the way 


48 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


to the Clement House, without exposing myself to 
disagreeable insinuations and ridicule.” 

Accordingly he stepped up to the drug-store and 
lifting his hat to the man who was lounging on the 
steps, he ventured the observation that “it was a 
fine day.” 

“Very fine,” assented the man addressed, with 
amiable brevity, as he gave North a glance that 
plainly said, “I’ve seen you before, but who in the 
world are you, anyway?” Then moving a little 
aside to enable North to enter the store, he relapsed 
into his own silent meditations as he idly watched 
the passers-by. 

Lounging amid the colored lights in the great front 
window was a discontented looking youth whose 
utter idleness and general appearance of ennui ap- 
pealed to North’s sympathy at once. The depressed 
and languishing state of business was painfully ap- 
parent in the solitude and leisure that pervaded the 
place. 

North smiled affably at the youth as he turned to 
the counter. What magical influence there is in a 
smile! Hope, expectation, renewed faith in his fel- 
low-men, even a faint interest in life became apparent 
in that sad youth’s countenance, only to be suc- 
ceeded by a melancholy far surpassing his original 
gloom, when North inquired for a directory. 

Indicating by a silent gesture the dingy old volume 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


49 


that was chained to the counter in full view, the 
youth returned with a sad reproachful air to his post 
of observation in the window and vouchsafed no fur- 
ther notice of the man whose interest soared no 
higher than the pages of the local directory. 

Turning the leaves rapidly until he came to the 
right initial, North commenced to scan the pages 
carefully in the hope of discovering the name and 
local habitation of Dennis O ^Reilly. He found the 
family well represented. There was Jem and Bridget 
and Patrick, and Ann and Terrence and John; but 
nowhere Dennis. Over and over again he read the 
names, but to no purpose ; for, lacking the ingenuity of 
the Irishman who unlawfully appropriated an army 
blanket and then proved property, to his own satis- 
faction, at least, by the fact that his initials were on 
it — U for Patrick and S for 0 ’Rafferty — he could not 
make John or Bridget or any of the other names read 
Dennis, and he finally gave up the attempt in de- 
spair. 

As he was turning back listlessly, the name “May- 
nard” caught his eye. There it was — “Major 
Charles Maynard, No. 33 Delaplaine street.” 

“Her husband,” reflected North, with a vague feel- 
ing of having satisfactorily settled one point. “I 
suspected so from the way she referred to him. A 
crochety old fellow who has to be humored. I 
wonder if he makes her very unhappy? And if — ” 


50 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


The thread of his reflections was suddenly broken. 
His glance had wandered from the open book to a 
newspaper on the counter; and this, among other 
professional cards displayed in the advertising col- 
umns had arrested his attention: North and Wes- 

cott, Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Offices 3 
and 5 Market Square.” 

“‘North and Wescott’ — a partner, by Jove!” was 
the first comment that flashed through his mind; 
‘“3 and 5 Market Square;’ if I ever can find the 
place, I think I must call at my office and see how 
things look there. North — North — h’m! Notin the 
directory,” he added after a hasty search for the 
name. “But then, it’s an old edition, and probably 
doesn’t contain the names of one-half the present 
population. And now, about this O’Reilly; it’s 
perfectly evident that he isn’t here either. How 
shall I go to work to find him? Perhaps this boy 
can tell me something about him. At least I can in- 
quire.” 

And closing the book, North began jocosely : 

“Young man, what sort of a directory do you call 
this, anyway?” 

The youth just turned his head toward North on 
being thus suddenly and familiarly addressed. 

“Good enough,” was his laconic response, given 
with an intonation that strongly suggested the ad- 
ditional words, “forjon/” 


A LITTLE COMEDV OF ERRORS. 


51 


rejoined Nortli, “I arn perfectly willing to 
concede that it is good enough so far as it goes; but 
inasmuch as it fails to give the precise information 
that I am seeking, it is worth nothing at all to me. 
I am in search of one Dennis O’Reilly, who professes to 
be a resident of this city. Can you give me any in- 
formation concerning him ? ” 

“Dennis O’Reilly?” said the boy with ablanklook, 
as he thrust his elbows on the shelf directly behind 
him and slowly turned himself around until he was 
facing North. “ Dennis O’Reill}^ ? ” he repeated in the 
strongly disparaging tone by which people frequently 
attempt to justify the ignorance that they are com- 
pelled to confess. “Never heard of him before! ” 

“Ah, not a very prominent citizen, then? I fear I 
shall have great difficulty in finding him. Who would 
be likely to know something about him ? Can you 
suggest anyone at all ? ” 

The boy shook his head as if giving it up at the 
outset, but nevertheless reflecting seriously for a mo- 
ment. Glancing idly into the street, he saw a gentle- 
man standing on the opposite corner. Instantly the 
youth’s countenance lighted up with that peculiar 
illumination which is the unmistakable indication of 
a new idea. 

“There’s Mr. Wymer, over there on the corner,” he 
said with a hod toward the gentleman. “Ask him. 
He’s a ward politician, and he knows all such people. 


52 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


He’s better’ll a d’rect’rj, Mr. Wjmer is. If anyone 
can tell you, be can.” 

Such an opportunity was not to be lost. With 
thanks for the suggestion North left the store and 
hurried across the street. 

A gentleman richly dressed in black broadcloth, 
with a glossy silk hat and a dazzling gold watch- 
chain, was leaning against the corner lamp-post, gaz- 
ing about him with an air of supreme satisfaction. 
It required only a practiced glance to discover the 
cause of this complacency. 

A ward politician ! He looks like it,” thought 
North; then lifting his hat he addressed the gentle- 
man. 

“Mr. Wymer, I believe?” 

“Blessed if ’taint!” was the graceful response, as 
Mr. Wymer turned his smiling gaze upon North with- 
out changing his attitude in the least, “Jack Wymer, 
Esq. ; Workin’man’s friend ; here’s er ticket for you, 
gentlemen ; Pratt for may’r, Brown for treasurer, 
Wymer, Jack Wymer — hooray, that’s me ! — for city 
’torney ! That’s matter with Wymer I ” 

“Ah, indeed!” rejoined North with an air of in- 
terest. “City attorney? So you aspire to that 
office. Do you think you’ll get it ? ” 

“Get it? D’ye mean to shay I won’t get it? Come 
on, now, and back it up if you dare! ” cried Mr. Wy- 
mer, suddenly assuming a pugilistic attitude; then as 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


53 


this brief paroxysm of resentment passed off and his 
overpowering good humor returned, he subsided into 
his former attidude of repose and inquired stupidly 
but amiably. “Get what ? ” 

North did not wish to pursue the subject, so he 
merely responded in an equally stupid and amiable 
way: “Ah, yes, very true, Mr. Wymer,” which the 
latter, in his sadly befogged state of mind looked 
upon as not only a very elegant, comprehensive and 
satisfactory, but likewise a genial and friendly style 
of rejoinder; and peace was immediately re-estab- 
lished. 

“It is useless to ask him any questions,” thought 
North despairingly. “If Dennis O’Reilly werehisown 
brother he would scarcely know it in his present con- 
dition, so I might as well pass on. It is a fortunate 
thing that he doesn’t know me! ” 

With this vSelf-congratulation he had turned away 
when he was electrified by hearing his name pro- 
nounced by Mr. Wymer in tones loud enough to at- 
tract general attention. 

“North! I shay. North, hold on! Lemme speak 
to you — tic’lar bishnush ! ” 

North paused irresolutely, and looked back at 
Wymer; then deciding to pay no attention to the 
man, he turned away again and started down the 
street at a slightly accelerated pace. 

Instantly Mr. Wymer, without stirring from his 


54 


A little comedo of ERRORS. 


careless, lounging attitude, raised his voice higher 
and called more vociferously. 

“I shay! Hooray there. North, d’ye hear? Lem- 
me speak t’ you jush minute — tic’larbishnush. North, 
d’ye hear?” 

North heard, and so did everyone else. Gentlemen 
in the surrounding buvsiness places lounged up to the 
doors and windows and looked smilingly out; pass- 
ers-by turned their heads curiously to see what was 
going on ; small boys walked backward very nearly 
off the curbstone in their anxiety to witness the 
finale; and, to add to North’s discomfiture, everyone 
whose eye he met, as he retraced his steps, nodded in 
a familiar, friendly v/ay. 

Wymer watched his return with a smile of stupid 
satisfaction. 

“Now, Wymer,” said North as he stepped up close 
to his tormenter, “let me warn you not to waste any 
words. If you have anything to say to me, say it at 
once, in the shortest possible time. Do you hear?” 

“North, are you my friend?” inquired Mr. Wymer 
in reproachful tones as he regarded North with blink- 
ing eyes. 

North’s first impulse was to respond with a slightly 
italicized negative, but fearing that such a course 
would only ex .asperate Wymer and make matters 
worse, he conciliated instead. 

“Now see here, Wymer,” he said, “I’m perfectly 


A LIl'TLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


55 


willing to use all my influence to elect you city attor- 
ney, and doesn^t that prove that I ’m your friend ? ’’ 

As he spoke, a shout of laughter arose from every 
side. He could not imagine what it was that gave 
such point to his remarks, but he saw that it was at 
once perceived and appreciated. 

Wymer apparently did not heed the laughter; he 
noticed only North, to whom he immediately ad- 
dressed the imperious inquiry. 

“Why do you run, then, if you’re friend er mine?” 

“I’m not running! ” returned North, amazed. 

“You are,” said Mr. Wymer, with the ready and 
fearless spirit of contradiction that a heated politic- 
al campaign usually develops. “What have they 
got vou on their dude ticket for, if you ain’t runnin’? 
I tell you. North, your party ’s a played-out set er 
thieves an’ scoundrels, an’ 3^ou’re ’nother, an’ you’ll 
never be ’lected city ’torney while er worl’ stands! 
D’ye hear ?” And, starting up energetically, Mr. Wy- 
mer emphasized these statements with some violent 
gestures, bringing his clenched fists into an altogether 
disagreeable proximity to North’s face. 

Even in the midst of his annoyance North found 
time to make a mental note of the new fact that Wy- 
mer’s words had elicited. 

“So I am the opposing candid ate for city attorney,” 
he said to himself, accepting with a half-satirical sur- 
prise the honor that was thus thrust upon him. 


56 


A LITTLE COMELY OE ERRORS. 


^‘Actually dabbling in local politics; Iiiever supposed 
that I could descend to that ! 

Mr. Wymer’s brief enthusiasm passing off, he re- 
lapsed again into a state of harmless and peaceful im- 
becility; and North thought that his moment of 
escape had come. 

Butin this he was cruelly disappointed. No sooner 
had he turned away than Wymer started up again, 
exclaiming with all the enthusiasm of a new inspira- 
tion: 

“I shay, North, hold on; jush lemme speak t’ 
you ! ” 

“Speak to me, then, and have done with it ! ” cried 
North desperately. ^ 

“North — you’re drunk!” asserted Mr. Wymer 
with startling emphasis, as he steadied himself 
against the lamp-post and blinked sternly at North. 
“You’re drunk, sir, drunk. D’ye hear? Fou 7/ never 
do for city ’torney; oh, no! Take ’im home, boys,” 
he added, waving his hand unsteadily toward several 
gentlemen who had congregated on the corner. “He 
feels sick, now. North does. Told ’imer truth. Don’t 
like to have er truth told ’im. Take ’im home, I 
shay. His own mother wouldn’t know him now; 
he’s drunk!” 

Upon this appeal one of the gentlemen stepped for- 
ward quickly and tookNorth’s arm, with the words : 

“I think you’d better let me take you home. North, 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


57 


Mr. W\^mer will feel better satisfied if you do. Come 
on, old fellow,” he added, drawing North aside and 
speaking confidentially, “it is the shortest way to 
get rid of Wymer. He’s just in a condition to be 
troublesome. If you can escape from him in this 
way, you ’d better do it.” 

North assented and started slowly down the 
street with his arm linked in that of his friendly 
companion; but he was not destined yet to es- 
cape. Wymer gazed after them for a moment in a 
slightly bewildered way, then suddenly started to 
follow them at a creditable pace; creditable only in 
point of speed, for he described all sorts of variations 
from the straight line of direction in his hurried 
course, while his voiee was still heard above every 
other sound in the street. 

“‘Sawful shad!” he exclaimed, very nearly upset- 
ting himself in his vehement efforts to extract a silk 
handkerchief from his pocket, with the obvious inten- 
tion of assuaging imaginary tears of grief. “Young 
man er North’s talen’s throwin’ shelf away like thish! 
Tur’ble warnin’, young men. Drink did it. D’ye 
hear? Steady there, now, steady! Hooray! Here 
we go ! ” 

Mr. Wymer’s mood became slightly hilarious at 
this point, and, catching his hat in his hand, he 
swung it gleefully around his head while he contin- 
ued to cheer uproariously. 


58 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


This was beyond endurance. Halting sharply, 
North had just turned to signal a policeman half-a- 
square distant, who, with that disinclination to 
active duty that seemed to pervade the whole local 
force, had been witnessing this scene without any 
thought, apparently, beyond his own idle amuse- 
ment, when two young men, passing on the oppo- 
site side of the street, caught sight of Wymer, di- 
vined the state of affairs, and came hurrying up to 
interfere. 

They took forcible possession of Mr. Wymer, not- 
withstanding his manful resistance, and by their 
united powers of command and persuasion succeeded 
in leading him away. 

North and his new friend watched the interesting 
trio until they turned a corner and disappeared; 
then they continued their own walk down the street. 

“Mr. Wymer’s friends were evidently disconcerted 
on finding that he was making such a spectacle of 
himself,” remarked North, as he recalled the glances 
of chagrin that the young men had exchanged. 

“Why, yes; they see that he is ruining his chances 

for election. Every one in X knows that Jack 

Wymer is a dissipated fellow, but this is the first time 
for weeks that he has been seen on the streets ^ele- 
vated’ in the daytime. They have kept a close 
watch over him during the canvass; must have re- 
laxed their vigilance a little to-day. Oh, they’re a 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


59 


hard lot, that whole ‘Labor Party, ^ as they call 
themselves — a hard lot ! ” addedNorth’s companion, 
shaking his head dubiously. “Of course, old Wy- 
mer’s money is the backbone of the concern; everyone 
knows that he got up this movement just to foist his 
promising son into office. Couldn’t run on any reg- 
ular ticket, you see. Workingman’s friends, indeed! 
Why, the party leaders are nothing in the world but 
a set of worthless demagogues without a thimbleful 
of brains among them ; and as to all their fine talk 
about being the poor man’s friends and looking out 
for the interests of labor versus capital, it’s just so 
much trash and twaddle! I can’t see that the move- 
ment is making any headway at all ; can you ? ” 

“Well, it is difficult to judge,” returned North with 
the wise non-committal air eminently becoming his 
ignorance on the subject. “These things often turn 
out in a very unexpected way, you know. In fact, 
it ma3' be said pre-eminent W of politics, ‘that it is al- 
ways the unexpected that happens.’ W^e never can 
tell until the decisive day comes, with what skill our 
opponents have been massing their forces.” 

“As to that,” returned the other with a laugh, 
“ Wymer’s part^^ haven’t any forces to mass. Oh, of 
course they make some show ; but with the better 
elements of the other parties consolidated in this in- 
dependent ticket, and drawn up in a sort of invinci- 
ble phalanx against them, they ought to know that 


60 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


this municipal fight will prove their Waterloo. Still, 
old Wjmer’s money has done a good many queer 
things, if all reports are true ; and it may possibly 
get Jack into office.” 

A sudden turn right here brought them in sight of 
the Clement House, greatly to North’s satisfaction. 
Parting from his friendly companion at the steps of 
the hotel. North went up to his room, whence, a few 
moments later, he was summoned to the dining- 
room by the harsh music of the gong. 


CHAPTER V. 


Hath there been such a time (I’d fain know that), 

That I have positively said, “ ’Tis so,” 

When it proved otherwise ? 

— Hamlet. 

Hume : — Seal up your lips and give no word but— mum ! 

This business asketh silent secresy ! 

— King Henry VI. 


Immediately after dinner North returned to his 
room with the intention of writing to his New York 

colleagues, notifying them of his arrival in X , 

and giving them the benefit of his opinion as to 
the probability of his discovering Dennis O’Reilly 
himself, to say nothing of his supposed clews. 

Seated at the writing table, deliberating gravely 
before commencing the letter, he drew his cigar-case 
from his pocket, thinking that he might find inspira- 
tion in a fragrant Havana ; and with it came the en- 
velope that he had received from Mrs. Maynard’s 
hand. 

The sight of it struck disagreeably upon him. By 

this time his better judgment, having secured a tardy 

hearing, was severely condemning the reckless spirit 

that had led him to call on Mrs. Maynard, and he 

had the good grace to be heartily ashamed of himself 
5 61 


62 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


for that exploit. How he should make amends for it 
was a question difficult enough under any circum- 
stances, but complicated to the extreme of awkward- 
ness by his possession of that letter — a letter which 
Mrs. Maynard had evidently designed for the perusal 
of a trusted and confidential friend, not of a total 
stranger. 

With a growing sense of his own embarrassing po- 
sition, North laid the envelope as far as possible 
from him on the desk; and, as he did so, his glance 
fell idly upon one of the books that were ranged be- 
neath the pigeon-holes. In his first hurried examina- 
tion of the room he had glanced through several of 
the books without finding anything that would 
identify the owner ; but he had overlooked this vol- 
ume, which, as his eye now rested upon it, seemed to 
wear a strangely familiar look. 

He drew it from its place and looked at the title; 
it was a copy of Don Quixote, in the original. With 
growing excitement he turned to the fly-leaf. There, 
above a date that carried him back in memory several 
years to his college days at Harvard, he saw written 
by his own hand the words, “Ollin, from Allan,” 
while underneath in the doggerel in which under- 
graduates delight, were scrawled a few stanzas, the 
authorship of which a remorseless memory immedi- 
ately fastened upon him. 

The book dropped from bis bands in bis agitation 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


63 


at this discovery. Id tones of incredulous amaze- 
ment he exclaimed : 

“At last the mystery is solved! By Jove! So my 
first suspicion was correct, after all, Ollin, not 
Allan; the similarity in sound deceived me; it was 
Ollin North that he said ” — his thoughts suddenly re- 
verting to the gentleman with the eye-glasses. 
“Actually Noll, my own twin-brother! No wonder 
they can’t tell us apart ! Well, I am astonished ! I 
should as soon have expected to run against the man 
in the moon, or any other person of doubtful exist- 
ence, as to find Noll here. Why did n’t he let me know 
where he was? I hope he doesn’t lay any of Uncle 
Dick’s sins at my door! What if the old gentleman 
was always holding me up as a model for Noll to imi- 
tate, ever since we were in knickerbockers, and calling 
me his favorite nephew and all that rubbish; why, 
bless his heart, Noll knew well enough how I felt to- 
ward him, and I don’t believe there was ever the 
faintest shade of jealousy or even so much as a pass- 
ing cloud between us up to the very day we parted 
so suddenly ! Let me see, now, how long ago was 
that? We were just out of college, Noll and I, and 
were reading law with Judge Carroll, and that was 
six years ago. Six years! What a genius Noll had 
for spending money! Now I always had enough 
with my regular allowance, and managed to make 
the ends meet very creditably, though Uncle Dick 


64 


A LITTLE COIIEDY OF ERRORS. 


wasn’t exactly princely in His generosity in this re- 
spect ; whereas Noll, without one single vice, or even 
an actual extravagance that you could lay your 
huger on, was always and forever in debt. It used 
to be a perfect mystery to me how he contrived to 
spend so much money ; it seemed to melt away like 
ice as soon as it got into his hands, and that made 
Uncle Dick wrathy, so that hnally he cut off Noll’s 
allowance altogether, and swore he would disinherit 
the young spendthrift, and actually did forbid him 
the house; and poor Noll, too proud and angry to bid 
even me good-by, drifted off to Europe to live by his 
wits. Dear old fellow ! He had a better capital to 
depend on than most of the fellows have who are 
obliged to resort to that invisible means of support ! 
And now he has drifted back to the United States 
and is living here in X , fully established in his pro- 

fession, and actually running for a municipal office. 
It really wasn’t fair for him to throw me over in 
this unceremonious way. By Jove! I’ll tell him 
what I think of this unbrotherly conduct when I see 
him again. And I can tell him something else that 
will interest him quite as much, perhaps — that there 
hasn’t been a day in the last six years when Uncle 
Dick wouldn’t have given his right hand to make up 
his quarrel with Noll and receive him back into full fa- 
vor again, if only Noll would make the first advances. 
Ho w I should like to see the dear old fellow again ! 


A LIMLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


65 


This Cervantes brings him np so vividly; to think 
that he should still keep it about him ! It must be 
for the sake of old associations ; that is so like Noll ! ” 

While these thoughts were passing through his 
mind, North had taken up the book again, and he 
was now slowly turning the pages, pausing occasion- 
ally to read some marked passage or marginal note 
scrawled in pencil. 

As he did so a folded paper fluttered from between 
the leaves and fell to the floor. North picked up the 
paper and unfolded it. It was a telegram addressed 
to Ollin North. Before he was conscious of what he 
was doing Allan North had read these words : 

“ Will proves to be a forgery. Who is responsible for this ? We 
look to yourself and Mrs. Maynard for explanations. Search for 
Mrs. Dunkirk’s nieee will be proseeuted. Also an investigation of 
this forgery. Let us hear from you at once. 

“Hopkins and Shepherd.” 

It would be impossible to give any adequate de- 
scription of North’s state of mind as he read this mes- 
sage, while its startling significance slowly penetrat- 
ed through the first dazed wonder that it created. 
By degrees a clear and definite idea shaped itself in 
his mind. 

^^Well!” he exclaimed aloud; “if this is n’t the most 
remarkable coincidence I ever heard of! And it 
plunges me deeper than ever into embarrassments. 
Mrs. Maynard — surely that is the name; why did it 
not occur to me at once? Mrs. Maynard, repre- 


66 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


sented in court by Hopkins and Shepherd of New 
York, is the claimant in the Dunkirk will case, in 
which my partners. Hunter and Ketchum, appear as 
executors and solicitors of the estate. I, who have 
previously had no connection with the case, come 

here to X as the representative of Hunter and 

Ketchum, to investigate a clew which they hope may 
lead to the discovery of Annie Dupont, the sole heir at 
law ; and behold, I am mistaken by the claimant for her 
own lawyer! Could such a combination of circum- 
stances occur more than once in a hundred years ? 

Once more he took up the telegram and read it. In 
his first hasty perusal he had overlooked one point 
which a second and more careful reading now brought 
out with startling prominence. 

“ ‘We look to yourself and Mrs. Maynard ’ — he 
read the sentence aloud in a puzzled way — “ ‘for ex- 
planations.’ What does this mean ? Can it be pos- 
sible that they suspect — Good heavens! It all 
flashes upon me now ! Why was I so blind as not to 
see it before? ’’ 

Dashing the telegram down on the desk, he rose to 
his feet with his face grown suddenly white, and com- 
menced to pace rapidly to and fro. 

Mrs. Maynard, the claimant, Ollin North, her con- 
fidential legal adviser. What had been his own pre- 
vious suspicion concerning these two? Only too 
well did he remember it now ; and he saw it plainly 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 67 

reflected in that message of Hopkins and Shepherd. 
Tn a swift rush of thought Allan North reviewed all 
tlie incidents of the case that had first led to his sus- 
picion ; he took up one by one the various links which, 
though slight and insignificant in themselves, yet 
when skillfully united formed a complete chain of 
damaging evidence; and by the time this swift review 
was finished he had surrendered most reluctantly to 
the belief that seemed to be irresistibly forced upon 
him. 

Can it be possible,’^ he asked himself, still in a 
maze of bewildered thought, of unwilling conviction, 
“that Noll has so far forgotten his personal and pro- 
fessional honor as to descend to such a deed as this ? 
There is only one hypothesis upon which I can ex- 
plain it at all. He must have been mad — infatuated ! 
A beautiful face has lured many a man to his ruin, 
and Noll has doubtless been the victim of the artful 
wiles that were practiced upon me to-day. So be 
it! Fate has most strangely put it within my power 
to visit a just retribution upon her, and I will exer- 
cise that power without mercy. I will deliberately 
keep up the deception in which I have thus far ac- 
quiesced for my own idle amusement, and in the as- 
sumed character of my brother ascertain how far 
Mrs. Maynard has knowledge and complicity in this 
forgery. And if I find that she is responsible for the 
wretched conspiracy, let her beware! 


68 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


There was a pitiless anger in North's heart as he 
spoke these words in audible soliloquy, and a piti- 
less expression on his stern, set face. He did not for 
one moment question the correctness of his suspicions, 
the justice of his conclusions; he felt an inward con- 
viction of their truth which was to his mind ^^confir- 
mation strong as proofs of holy writ." The thought 
of the crime to which he believed that his brother had 
been lured, the exposure and disgrace that threatened 
him, the stigma that would thenceforth rest upon the 
family name, was maddening to him. And thus his 
resolution was formed ; he would take advantage of 
the peculiar circumstances in which an exceptional 
turn of fortune had placed him, to learn the whole 
truth concerning the forgery, and if possible divert 
public suspicion and discovery from his brother, for 
the sake of the innocent ones who would suffer if his 
crime became known. 

This resolution probably was not taken on the 
loftiest of moral grounds ; but Allan North was not 
in a position just then to view the case from any ele- 
vated moral or ethical standpoint. If he had blamed 
his brother more severely he might possibly have 
been less inclined to shield him ; but for some reason 
he had a distinct feeling that Ollin was more to be 
pitied than blamed. All his righteous indignation 
was visited upon the beautiful woman whom he be- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


69 


lieved to have been the cause of his brother's tempta- 
tion and stumbling. 

“And now,” he reflected, having definitely deter- 
mined upon his course, “can I so perfectly assume 
the character of my brother that not even his inti- 
mate friends and daily associates shall suspect the 
deception? My success thus far has been very en- 
couraging; the only thing that staggers me is my 

utter ignorance of his private affairs here in X , 

his social, political and professional connections. 
Then, there is the uncertainty about how long Noll 
will remain away. If he should return before I have 
succeeded in gaining any evidence from Mrs. May- 
nard, my labor will be wasted. But, by Jove! — No, 
no, that is a wild supposition ? Noll would never 
do anything so cowardly as to run away when he 
discovered that he was suspected. And yet, his leav- 
ing so suddenly as he did after receiving that message 
from Hopkins and Shepherd has a rather significant 
look. I must bear that in mind. Well, I shall 
have to trust largely to fortune, and make the most 
of the time that I have for developing and accom- 
plishing my purpose. In the meantime, of course, I 
must not forget my mission for Hunter and Ketchum. 
I will write them a line now to report progress,— or 
lack of it,— and then give myself up to a careful con- 
sideration of this other, still more important mat- 
ter.” 


70 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

The letter to Hunter and Ketchum was hastily 
written and sealed; then, as he laid his pen aside, 
North’s eye fell upon the envelope that Mrs. May- 
nard had given him. 

“Ah,” he thought, taking it in his hand, “this is 
the letter that Noll had urged her to find, as he fan- 
cied that it might be of value as evidence. It must 
have some more or less direct bearing, then, upon 
this will case. I think I can soon judge of its value.” 

He drew from the envelope a sheet of thin blue paper. 
When he had unfolded it, the old-fashioned chirogra- 
phy of Mrs. Dunkirk met his eye. 

The ink was pale, and the writing tremulous and 
illegible. North was obliged to brighten the gas and 
study the document carefully before he succeeded in 
deciphering it as follows : — 

“New York, May 22, 18 . 

‘ Dear Nina : 

“Yours of the 15th is at hand. I am sorry to hear of your 
difficulties, but am in no position to advise you. Mr. Maynard 
used his own discretion in the matter, and his right to do so no 
one can dispute. That you are disappointed is of course natural; 
but why you should feel so despondent in regard to your future I 
cannot understand. You were always overfond of money. I have 
learned from my own experience that it brings to its possessor 
great responsibilities, as well as weariness and vexation of spirit, 
and it is a fruitful source of envying and strife. Beyond a modest 
competence, such as you will possess, it is not desirable, especially 
for a woman who has only mercenary lawyers to loot out for her 
interests. Nevertheless, if wealth would bestow upon you any 
happiness, I should like to gratify you in that respect. While I 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


71 


live I must retain the control of my fortune. After I am gone, 
what matter to me who has it? I am anxious only to wrong no 
one in what I do. A few years ago I believed that I had a niece 
living, — my only surviving relative, Hamilton’s daughter, — who 
ought to be my heir. The most diligent search has failed, how- 
ever, to discover her, and I have at last most reluctantly given up 
this belief. There is no one who hasagreater claim upon me than 
yourself. This claim I feel inclined at present to recog*nize. Char- 
itable bequests I do not favor. I have given freely to public and 
private charities during my lifetime, and have received but mea- 
ger thanks. During the five years that you were with me before 
your marriage, you were like a daughter to me. This I have always 
remembered kindly. 

“ My health is slowly improving with the return of warmer 
weather. The bleak spring-time is an enemy to my constitution. 
I find Jenner a faithful attendant in my declining years. My re- 
gards to Mr. Maynard and fa,mily. 

“Yours afiectionatel3% 


“Jane Dunkirk.’ 


CHAPTER VI. 


Mer . : — How is the man esteemed here in the city ? 

Aag .: — Of very reverent reputation, sir; 

Of credit infinite, highly beloved. 

Second to none that lives here in the city. 

— Comedy of Errors. 


Haying folded this letter, replaced it in the envel- 
ope and put it carefully in his note-book, North had 
just composed himself for the serious meditation that 
his -►circumstances required, when he heard a quick 
knock at his door. 

He started to his feet nervously. 

“Who is that, I wonder? ’’ he asked himself blank- 
ly. “Some friend of Noll’s, I presume. Well, there 
is no help for it ; I must meet this ordeal sooner or 
later.” 

Crossing the room he unfastened the door and 
threw it wide open. 

Instantly, without pause or ceremony, a gentle- 
man rushed into the room. 

North gave him one keen comprehensive glance. 
He was short, slight and nervous, with sharp gray 
eyes, fierce black mustache, saucy nose and deter- 

72 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


73 


mined chin, a wide-awake business-like manner, and 
a frank, pleasant smile. 

All this North noted in his first glance ; and the 
burden of his unuttered thought was: “Who is he? 
Who is he ? ” 

“Well, well! I say now, North,” were the first 
words of the visitor, spoken in a sharp, slightly 
nasal voice, as he placed his hand impulsively on 
North’s arm, “what on earth do you mean? You’re 
a mighty cool fellow, seems to me I ” 

“Come, my dear friend,” interposed North with 
suave self-possession, “not too fast, if you please. 
Sit down, — let me give you this lounging chair, — and 
we will talk matters over. I trust that I shall be 
able to give a satisfactory account of myself, as to 
motives, and that you will be lenient toward my de- 
linquencies as to actions.” 

“When did you get back ? ” inquired the gentleman 
as, disposing himself comfortably in the offered chair^ 
he elevated his feet to a convenient altitude and 
looked sharply at North. 

“Why, let me see! I reached X about noon, I 

think. Yes, I recollect, now; it was twelve o’clock.” 

North indolently twirled his drooping mustache as 
he spoke, and his whole manner was the perfection 
of nonchalance. No one observing him would have 
suspected that he was waiting with bated breath to 
see what turn the conversation would take. 


74 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Come back to stay ? ” 

^‘Indefinitely. I may leave at any time. I am 
scarcely in a position to determine that question for 
myself. It is optional with business interests, you 
know.” 

“Yes, I know, you mentioned some complications 
to me yesterday. Found out anything new about 
them? ” 

“Nothing of importance.” 

“Changed your plans pretty suddenly, didn’t 3^ou, 
North?” 

“Well, yes, my plans have undergone a rather im- 
portant alteration since morning. But, as I said 
before, I do not know how soon the aspect of affairs 

may again change and I be called away from X , 

consequently,” — North smiled radiantly as this in- 
spiration came to him, — “to all intents and purposes 
I am still absent. Do you understand me? ” 

He spoke these words with a certain significance in 
his tones and not a little anxiety as to how they 
would be received. He looked keenly at his visitor. 
The latter in his turn looked keenly at North. In an 
instant a quick flash of intelligence passed between 
them. 

“I see, I see! ” commented his visitor, with two or 
three sharp little jerks of his head to emphasize the 
fact. “In other words, we are to govern ourselves 
and our actions precisely as we would if you were a 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


75 


thousand miles away. That was what puzzled Clip- 
per and me. You see, while you were away we knew 
just what to do, because you had put everything 
right into our hands ; and as we’re not the fellows 
to let the grass grow under our feet, we had already 
mapped out our campaign for the remaining two 
weeks, and had taken a few preliminary steps. Then 
all at once we heard this afternoon that you had re- 
turned, and without notifying us — ” 

“That was notan intentional neglect, I assure you, 
my dear fellow,” interposed North, apologetically. 

“No, I suppose not. It’s all right, now, of course, 
only at first we did n’t know what to think of it ; and 
so finally I decided that I’d come up here and see you, 
and find out what you did mean. Hope I’m not in- 
terrupting you. North ? ” he added, as his sharp eyes 
rested upon the writing materials on the table. 

“Not in the least,” returned North hospitably. “I 
have been writing a letter, which I was anxious should 
leave to-night.” 

“Time it was in the office, then, if you want it to 
catch the evening m ail, ’ ’ remarked the other. ‘ ‘ Going 
down ? I’ll go with you, if you don’t object.” 

“Come on, then,” said North, starting up; and he 
added to himself, as he got his hat and gloves : 

“Object? Not I! On the contrary, the great ad- 
vantage of being accompanied by someone who 
knows the exact location of my objective point prc- 


76 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


sents itself at once and forcibly to my mind. I shall 
endeavor, in the course of our conversation, to dis- 
cover — though I half suspect already — in what rela- 
tion to Noll this gentleman and Mr. Clipper stand.*’ 
Everybody’s off to club, or the political meetings 
to-night,” remarked North’s companion as, going 
down the deserted hotel steps, they started leisurely 
up the street. “I hear there is to be a big Wymer 
meeting this evening — sort of a grand rally round 
a forlorn hope ! Know anything about it. North?” 

“No, I had not heard of it at all,” rejoined North; 
adding mentally, with a slight shrug of his shoulders, 
“I have had quite enough of ‘Wymer meetings,’ my- 
self! I don’t ask for a repetition of the experience.” 

“He’s a regular fool, now, Wymer is,” pursued the 
other, thereby proving himself to be a violent parti- 
san of the North faction. “What chance has he? A 
fellow with no brains at all, and no influence to 
speak of. Simply a third-rate criminal lawyer, for 
whom no one has an atom of respect. Why, you’re 
a thousand times as popular, and what’s more, you 
have shown your superior ability as a lawyer. Wy- 
mer’s chances may be represented by a cipher. No 
one wants a blockhead for city attorney. Too many 
of them in office already.” 

“Waiving all personal interest in the matter,” re- 
marked North airily, “and speaking precisely as I 
might if I were not myself a candidate,” — it certainly 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


77 


required no severe exercise of the imaginative faculty 
for him to take this dispassionate view of the mat- 
ter, — “I must say that I do not consider young Wy- 
mer a very hopeful specimen of political timber; and 
since he has been put into this contest, I am glad 
that it is with the endorsement of no more influential 
a party than the one that he represents.’’ 

“Only chance for him,” was the dry rejoinder. 
“Get a set of unprincipled demagogues to nominate 
him and a big enough set of ignoramuses (and the 
world is full of ’em!) to vote for him, and he’s 
elected; but not otherwise. You’ll catch a weasel 
asleep when you see me letting my party come out 
second-best in any of our municipal elections I Not 
if I have to work day and night. Neither Clipper 
nor I will keep our coats on, I assure you, when 
there’s so much work to be done.” 

North made some appreciative response to these 
words, while mentally commenting : 

“Just as I surmised — he and Clipper are electioneer- 
ing in Noll’s interests, and now they have the whole 
afiair in their hands, just as Noll left it when he 
went away. In the meantime I shall exist in quiet- 
ness and peace, unruffled by any political excitements 
that may prevail, representing, in fact, the model 
politician who is in the hands of his friends, and who 
calmly awaits the verdict of the people ; who will, 
pro hono publico, accept the honors of office when 


78 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


they are thrust upon him, but in the meantime is 
neither actively exerting himself to secure his own 
election, nor apparently ‘taking on’ about it. Very 
good. I see more clearly now the position, politi- 
cally speaking, that I am to occupy. But — the very 
thought appalls me! — what if Noll should w^rite to 
them to inquire how matters are progressing? That 
would place me in a most embarrassing position! 
However this is borrowing trouble. Letter-writing 
never used to be my brother Noll’s besetting sin, and 
it is to be hoped that his absorbing business compli- 
cations, together with his sublime faith in these elec- 
tioneering friends of his will prevent him from com- 
mitting so absurd a blunder as that.” 

While he was struggling with these reflections 
North had been half listening to his companion’s 
conversation, and had absently responded to many 
hasty but cordial greetings from persons whom they 
met. 

He did not recognize among the latter anyone that 
he had seen before until, on turning a corner abrupt- 
ly, they came face to face with the gentleman with 
the eye-glasses, who had made too disagreeable an 
impression on North’s mind to be easily forgotten. 

North gave a very cool response to this gentleman’s 
growl of salutation and was intending to pass on im- 
mediately ; but his companion halted with the 
brusque greeting ; 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


79 


‘‘Hello, Wee ! Any news afloat ? 

“ Concerning what ? ” inquired that gentleman in 
slightly non-eommittal tones, with a defiant “you- 
don’t-get-anything-out-of-me.^” air, as he paused 
grudgingly and only half turned toward his inter- 
locutor. 

“Oh, things in general — politics, for instance. 
What are they doing up at that Wymer meeting? ” 

“How should /know? Haven’t been there. You’d 
better go yourself, Warner, if you’re so pushed to 
find out!” 

And with this gracious response, accompanied by 
a surly little laugh, he was turning on his heel to 
pursue his way, when he abruptly checked himself, 
and facing around squarely for the first time he con- 
tinued, addressing North : 

“By the way. North, old Archer was around this 
afternoon, and not finding you there, he tackled me. 
Very anxious to see you.” 

“ Old Archer? What did he want of me. Wee ? ” in- 
quired North at random, airing his newly-acquired 
information, i. e., the gentleman’s name — or, more 
properly, nickname. 

“Want of you? Quite a mystery I ” retorted Wee 
with a sarcastic laugh. “He swore up and down 
that he wouldn’t be put ofl* any longer, and said that 
if you don’t move in the matter yourself, he’ll soon 


80 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


find some way to fetch you. I believe I am quoting 
the gentleman literally. 

“Swore up and down, did he? Well, he will find 
that he will gain very little by that,” said North, as- 
suming an expression of stoical defiance which would 
probably have caused Mr. Archer to renew his pro- 
fanity, could he have seen it. Like the Aesthetic Dra- 
goons, North was not at all sure that he was doing 
this correctly, but it was the safest venture that his 
ingenuity could suggest. 

Wee lifted his eyebrows with a provoking air of 
surprise; while Warner preserved a discreet and sym- 
pathetic silence as he glanced from one to the other 
of the two gentlemen, either of whom was head and 
shoulders above him in height. 

“Really, North, you’re a little cantankerous this 
evening,” drawled Wee with his exasperating laugh. 
“For my part, I think old Archer has been very 
patient; and, bless your heart, you can’t expect a 
man to wait forever! I can’t defend you. North, in- 
deed I can’t ! You ’re an unpardonably careless fel- 
low in money matters.” 

“ Ollin’s old failing ; it sticks to him, I see,” com- 
mented North mentally, with an involuntary smile ; 
though why he should smile at that reflection he 
could scarcely have explained. 

“ It’s no laughing matter now. North, let me tell 
you,” continued Wee sharply as he perceived North’s 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


81 


expression. ‘ ‘ A man can’t afford to run his credit down 
through sheer carelessness. You’d better set to 
work to redeem yours ; now, right along, you know, 
while you ’ve got some to redeem ! ” 

With this disinterested advice and another charac- 
teristic laugh. Wee turned away for the last time 
and vanished quickly around the comer. 

Indignation and amazement kept North silent for 
several moments, as Warner and he pursued their 
way together. 

“Really,” bethought, “who is that fellow, that 
he should feel privileged to speak thus to Noll! His 
manner is quite insufferable ! We shall have a little 
score to settle betw'een ourselves some day, if he is 
not more careful.” 

“Hold on. North, where are you going? Here’s 
the post-office,” said Warner at this point, interrupt- 
ing himself in the midst of a sentence and North in 
his reflections. “ Got your letter there ? Better hur- 
ry. Mail closes in. precisely ten minutes,” he added 
with a hasty glance at his watch. 

“There is time enough, my dear Warner,” returned 
North negligently, as he drew the letter from his 
pocket. “Don’t you know, I never hurry” — he 
glanced critically at the superscription — “when I can 
possibly avoid it” — he turned the letter over and in- 
spected the seal — “and, generally speaking, I consid- 
er ten minutes ample time for mailing a letter.” He 


82 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


dropped it carelessly into the box with these last 
words. 

Once more on the street, they halted by common 
consent to light their cigars. 

‘ ‘ Anywhere else in view this evening ? ’ ’ in quired W ar- 
ner briefly between vigorous pufls at his cigar which 
exhibited an exasperating inclination to go out, not- 
withstanding his efforts to prevent that catastrophe. 

“No,” returned North as briefly, as he waved his 
fragrant Havana with its pale wreath of smoke and 
tiny spark of fire with an air of slight triumph, and 
proffered the still burning taper. “Have a light, 
Warner? Oh, I see you’ve made it go at last. Well, 
then, suppose we saunter back to the Clement 
House. Unless you have some other engagement — ” 
“ Oh, not at all ! Nothing in the world to do.” 
“The truth is,” resumed North after a meditative 
puff or two, as they started slowly on, “I’m not in 
the mood for anything to-night — club, politics or 
society. Confound business ! Attend to it faithfully 
and it makes a slave of you ; neglect it, and it’s an 
avenging Nemesis, forever at your heels ! ” 
“That’sso,” assented Warner with a mournful in- 
flection, as if he were reluctantly admitting a propo- 
sition which he had found to be all too true. “The 
political field pays better; for what if they do pitch 
into you, the opposition press, I mean; you draw 
your ducats regularly so long as you’re in office, and 


k lA'tThn COMEDY OE ERRORS. 83 

the less you do to deserve it, the better your chances 
are of being appreciated by the public. Office-hold- 
ing is a soft business, if a man isn’t afanatic on duty 
and knows how to look out for Number One; and I 
guess we can trust you for that, North.” 

^’Oh, yes; that has always been a very important 
figure with me, and I daresay it will continue to be. 
And why should it not, pray ? A man is the natural 
guardian of his own interests, and if he neglects them 
they are apt to suffer; no one else will look out for 
them. But on the other hand, there’s an almost uni- 
versal impulse to help the man that helps himself—” 
“Provided he doesn’t ‘help himself’ at the dear 
public’s expense,” suggested Warner dr^dy; a bon 
mot at which both he and North laughed indulgently, 
and the latter added : 

“But, even then, my dear Warner, you should rec- 
ollect that there are usually rogues enough in author- 
ity to connive at his escape’ unless they happen to be so 
deeply concerned in his transactions that their only 
way to save themselves is to sacrifice him and make 
him ‘the huge scape-goat of the race.’ ” 

“Now you’ve hit it!” declared Warner turning 
sharply to North. “Wild horses couldn’t drag the 
admission from Clipper, but I’ve always believed — 
and said it, too, all in the family — that this was 
about the size of that outcry against Damon. Why 
he should have been hounded out of office by a set of 


84 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


rogues who had probably been fleecing the taxpayers 
ever since they went into politics, I don’t see. It’s 
on the principle, I suppose, of punishing the starving 
wretch that steals a loaf of bread and letting the 
shrewd scoundrel that swindles whole communities 
go scot-free ! Of course, there’s no reasonable doubt 
that Damon was crooked, but who imagines that he 
was any worse than Brown or Jones, for instance? 
He was unfortunate enough to get found out ; they 
were shrewd enough not to. That’s the way I figure 
it out.” 

Warner spoke with considerable warmth, and as 
if he were certain of North’s sympathy. 

It was with blank dismay that North perceived 
to what definite suspicions against persons quite 
unknown to him he was supposed to have com- 
mitted himself by his innocently abstract remark. 
He hastened to take refuge behind a convenient 
breastwork of caution. 

“Now see here, Warner,” he said with an air of 
speaking in the most sacred confidence, “it will never 
do to say this, you know ; and really, I did not wish 
you to understand me quite as you did. I do n’t con- 
sider it expedient to make any definite charges 
against anyone, whatever my private opinion may 
be.” 

“Oh, of course; no use to bring it up now; but if 
we get Halleck in there he’ll sift the whole business. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


85 


That’s what I told Clipper all along, as an argument 
for opposing Halleck’s nomination; but he said: 
‘We’ve got to give them the treasurer, or it will cost 
us the other offices, like enough.’ And so it would, I 
suppose. If we had made a split on Halleckit would 
have done the business for you, for they were deter- 
mined to get one of their men in, either for treasurer 
or attorney, and Clipper said : ‘ So long as we elect 
the city attorney. I’ll risk Halleck’s investigations ! ’ ” 

North, quite bewildered by Warner’s revelations 
and equally uncertain to what sentiments he ought 
to commit Ollin, contrived here to give the conversa- 
tion a turn from local to national politics ; on which 
safe ground they continued until the end of their 
walk. Then as they paused at the hotel steps, War- 
ner suddenly reverted to personal affairs. 

“Well, then,” he said, “there’s an understanding, 
is there. North, that you are to leave all the details 
of the canvass, for the remaining two weeks, to Clip- 
per and me, just the same as if you were not here? ” 

“ Absolutely in your hands,” returned North with 
emphasis. “You see, I couldn’t do better. I don’t 
see how I could,” he added abstractedly. 

“No, nor I. It will have a better look, you know, 
if you appear to be indifferent. Wymer, now, is just 
crazy over the election. He talks about it day and 
night, waking and sleeping, drunk and sober; it’s 
literally his one idea. First one he ever had, so of 


86 


A LIMLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


course he wants to make the most of it. I think 
you’ve shown good sense, North, in keeping yourself 
so thoroughly out of the canvass. Trust all to Clip- 
per and me ! We’ve put too many elections through 
to fail on this one. You can hold yourself in readi- 
ness, you know, to address a meeting when your con- 
stituents clamor for a few words of wisdom from 
3^ou, or when your presence will help on the enthusi- 
asm ; but you needn’t soil your kid gloves.” 

“Very well,” said North with a laughing wave of 
farewell ; I’m in the hands of my friends, and the 
abject slave of duty. If I’m elected. I’ll not resign!” 


CHAPTER YII. 


Dro. E .: — Oh villian, thou hast stolen both mine office and my name! 

— Comedy of Errors. 


Until a late hour that night North was absorbed 
in the anxious contemplation of the task that he had 
assumed and the difficulties that would inevitably 
attend its accomplishment. When he arose the next 
morning and reviewed the situation by the merciless 
light of day, it was with a sense of calm daring and 
with resolution hardened to flint. 

He purposely went down late to breakfast in order 
to avoid the crowd in the dining-room. Having 
breakfasted in solitary state, he exchanged a few re- 
marks with Colonel Dayton, glanced over a morning 
paper and then strolled out of the hotel, intending to 
arrange definitely his plans for the day. 

“I wonder how my fair client is this morning?” 
ran his thoughts as he started down the street with 
no particular destination in view. “I shall have 
anything but welcome tidings for her when I see her 
asrain. How shall I conduct this affair? Verv deli- 

O 

cate! However, as I am happily proof against senti- 
mentality, I think I can handle it. I wonder if Noll 


88 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


has really allowed himself to become seriously inter- 
ested in her? The major must be a queer fellow, or 
possibly one of ‘the poor dear’s peculiarities ’ may be 
that he objects to that sort of thing! Well, I shall 
certainly keep on the safe side, whatever my brother 
may have done.” 

Indolently absorbed in his own reflections. North 
responded from time to time to the cordial greet- 
ings that he was constantly receiving He presently 
was struck by the fact that of the many friendly 
faces that he saw, not one of them was familiar. 

“I must not forget the few individuals whose names 
I have already learned,” he said to himself gravely. 
“Let me see now, who are they? There’s Colonel 
Dayton, to begin with ; well, I shall see him so con- 
stantly that there is no danger of my forgetting him. 
Then Warner, my electioneering friend; his image is 
likewise indelibly graven upon my memory. By-the- 
bye, I must look out for Clipper — Colonel Clipper, 
as I heard someone call him this morning. I shall 
probably meet him somewhere, and never know it un- 
less some fortunate chance enlightens me. One of 
Noll’s most intimate political associates, too, no 
doubt. Extremely awkward not to know him! 
Then there is Wee, that pattern of amiability. I 
cordially dislike that fellow, but I should like to 
know who he is, and how far his acquaintance and 
connection with Noll extend. W^’^mer, Jack Wymer, 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


89 


my political opponent— h’m! Can that be all? Oh, 
Mrs. Maynard, to be sure ! I must not omit her from 
the list of my acquaintances. Five persons in this 
city where I have such a host of friends, whom I can 
with confidence approaeh and call by name. What 
an outlook ! Well, I shall be obliged to keep my wits 
about me, and learn the names and countenances of 
Noll’s friends as speedily as possible; above all, I must 
be careful to speak to everyone that seems to know 
me. I will err on wisdom’s side,” he declared to him- 
self sagaciously. “It will be better to overwhelm 
Noll’s enemies by an unexpected affability than to 
chill his friends by an equally unexpected coldness 
and reserve ; and any unusual graciousness that I 
may thus display will no doubt be easily referred to 
the approaching election.” 

It was rather a grim smile that North’s face wore 
as he reached this conclusion. He did not even at" 
tempt to deceive himself by the persistently flippant 
tone of his reflections ; he was perfectly well aware 
that it was assumed as a slight relief from the sharp 
anxiety and suspense that he had been enduring from 
the moment when the suspicion of his brother’s com- 
plicity in the Dunkirk will forgery first entered his 
mind. 

It was the habit of Allan North’s life to treat even 
the most serious phases of his experience with a cyn- 
ical levity that wouid have shocked anyone who 


90 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


was accustomed to estimating sober realities at 
their true value and treating them accordingly. 
Thus far it was the best philosophy that he had 
learned, and he clung to it as fondly as a child clings 
to a painted toy. Fortunately, such a state of mind 
is neither fatal nor permanent. In the consummate 
maturity of heart and mind there is little room or 
toleration for the frivolities of adolescence. With the 
first inspiration of vigorous perfected mental growth 
that thistledown cynicism is blown away. 

‘‘By the way,” — North’s soliloquy brought him to 
a sudden halt on a corner, — “I wonder where Market 
Square is ? It occurs to me that it would be a wise, 
natural and praiseworthy proceeding, a delicate and 
perhaps not wholly undeserved compliment to my 
partner, for me to call at our office for a few mo- 
ments. Of course I’ll not undertake to do anything 
there, and I’ll not venture to stay very long, either, 
for fear some of Noll’s innumerable clients should ap- 
pear upon the scene and involve me in embarrassing 
complications ; still, for the sake of appearances and 
my own peace of mind, — that office and partner will 
be a haunting terror until I have boldly faced them, 
— I think I would better go, and at once.” 

This point settled, his next quandary was, how 
should he find Market Square without — expedient 
not to be thought of — actually inquiring the way? 

Still pausing on the street corner, he looked specu- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


91 


latively hither and thither. Suddenly his grave and 
puzzled countenance lighted up with relief. 

“Ah, there is Warner; perhaps I can contrive to 
have him extricate me from this dilemma,’’ thought 
he; and the next instant, “Hello, North!” “How 
are you, Warner?” were the salutations that were 
exchanged as the two gentlemen cordially clasped 
hands. 

“Where are you bound for. North? ” was Warner’s 
first inquiry. 

“To the office,” returned North, unblushingly. 

“You are? Going crab-fashion, eh ? ” And War- 
ner laughed gleefully at this palpable hit, for North, 
without knowing it at all, had been sauntering in the 
opposite direction from Market Square, with every 
step putting a greater distance between himself and 
that aristocratic portion of “down-town.” 

“Oh, I wasn’t going there directly, you know,” he 
responded negligently, without deigning even to 
smile at Warner’s suggestion. “ However, if you are 
going that way yourself, I will walk with you as far 
as the office. Anything new this morning?” he 
added in a confidential tone as they started on to- 
gether, Warner unconsciously taking the lead. 

“Nothing much, I guess. Heard about the row on 
High street? No? Why, its all over town! You 
see, Rochester and Bingham got disputing with old 
Wymer last night, and they came to blows before they 


92 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


could be separated. They were all a little ‘under the 
influence/ you know; just enough to make them 
quarrelsome. It was a regular knock-down affair 
which some hundred or more voting citizens, chiefly 
of the lower classes (besides your humble servant, 
who represented the aristocracy, you know), hap- 
pened to witness. The workingmen must have been 
highly edified by seeing their friends and champions 
making Kilkenny cats of themselves.” 

North shrugged his fastidious shoulders and with 
the tips of his gloved fingers daintily stroked his 
sweeping mustache. 

“By Jove, Warner,” he finally ejaculated, “it’s 
enough to disgust one forever with politics ! ” 

“Oh, I don’t know,” returned Warner in cheerful 
dissent. “I confess I should rather have it happen 
just as it did than to have any of our men concerned 
in it, when it can be arranged that way just as well 
as not; but how about Clipper’s knock-down en- 
counter with Duncastle last spring? ” 

“I repeat your question,” said North temporiz- 
ingly; “how about it? Was the affair especially 
creditable? ” 

“Creditable? It just made Clipper solid with all 
the best men in the city!” crkd Warner excitedly. 
“Resettled the worst scallawag in town so effect- 
ually that he didn’t dare to show his face at the 
polls, and the consequence was, we had a decent, 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


93 


quiet, orderly election. I tell you, there are now and 
then crises in political affairs when heroic measures 
are necessary, and it’s fortunate at such times to have 
a man like Clipper — one cast in the heroic mould — on 
hand to meet the emergency.” 

“That ‘Wymer meeting,’ then,” suggested North, 
reverting to the nearer event, “was not a very bril- 
liant success, I imagine? ” 

“Success? It was a regular fizzle! How could it 
be anything else with such a set to run it ? A house 
divided against itself can’t stand, particularly when 
it has such a shaky foundation. Seen Clipper this 
morning, North? ” 

“No,” answered North, mentally qualifying the 
negative. 

“I left him in the office finishing a stunning leader 
on ‘Our Candidate for City Attorney; ’you’ll see it in 
The Times to-day. It’s a capital thing, and the best 
of it is, you might suppose that he meant every word 
of it.” 

“ He represents me as a gentleman and a scholar, 
does he?” suggested North with a laughing glance 
at Warner, while through his mind the thought 
flashed quickly: 

“So Clipper is an editor — that’s one fact learned I ” 

“Yes; or a — what was that Roman fellow’s name? 
Clipper knows it — ready to fling yourself into the 
abyss, you know, and save our municipal govern- 

7 


94 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


merit. Ah, here’s the office; well, I’ll see you later. 
North.” 

And with this safe prediction, and a hasty wave of 
his hand, Warner hurried on alone and was speedily 
swallowed up by distance and the crowd. 

“ ‘Though lost to sight to memory dear! ’ ” quoted 
North mentally, as the energetic figure vanished from 
his grateful view. “What should I have done but 
for his timely appearance ? I might have been drift- 
ing aimlessly about the city, or else still stranded on 
that corner, afraid to launch away; ceilainly I 
should not have been anchored where I now am — at 
3 and 5 Market Square.” 

He glanced up with interest at the imposing brown- 
stone front, and the polished plate-glass window on 
which he saw the firm name, “North and Wcvscott, 
Attorneys and Counsellors at Law,” emblazoned in 
gilt letters. Then, turning to the door, he entered 
the outer office, one of a handsome suite of chambers. 

At the various desks were seated half-a-dozen clerks 
and students, some pouring over huge volumes of 
law, others busily writing. They all glanced up as 
North entered, and greeted him with a “Good morn- 
ing, Mr. North! ” in which a becoming deference and 
jovial good fellowship were blended; and he re- 
sponded with gracious courtesy. 

Then he inquired, addressing them all in a general 
. wajr; 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


95 


“Has Mr. Wescott come down yet? ’’ 

“Yes, sir; Mr. Wescott is in the private office,” 
answered one of the clerks with an involuntary jerk 
of his head toward the door of that room. 

North nodded carelessly and stood for a moment 
contemplatively gazing out of the window; then^ 
summoning all his resolution, he quietly approached 
the door and entered the private office of North and 
Wescott. 

His first impression was of a rather luxuriously 
furnished chamber, with easy-chairs, a whist-table, a 
shelf of novels and other similar adjuncts to relieve 
the severely legal aspect of the place. But before he 
could glance critically or comprehensively around the 
office, his attention was arrested, his faculties were 
absorbed by a startling discovery. 

Behind one of the desks, and evidently in rightful 
possession thereof, he saw an awkwardly bent figure, 
a familiar shock of dark brown hair, a familiar pair 
of English whiskers and eye-glasses. 

Tossing down his pen after affixing a few hairline 
flourishes to the signature that he had just scrawled 
on the paper before him, Mr. Wescott suddenly 
straightened up and met North’s astonished gaze. 

“By Jove!” was North’s mental ejaculation as he 
surveyed his brother’s partner with mingled emotions. 
“It’s Wee!” 

“What’s the matter, North ? ” demanded thatgen- 


96 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


tlema.", leaning forward with both elbows on the 
desk, resting his chin on one hand and directing a 
keen glance at North through his eve-glasses. 

“Oh, nothing at all, Wee. I thought I would drop 
in for a few moments and see how you were,” said 
North as he threw himself into aneasy-chair opposite 
Mr. Wescott and coolly returned his scrutiny. 

“Quite a condescension! growled Wee sarcastically. 
“Seen old Archer this morning? ” 

“Oh, come now, Wee, why are you forever thrust- 
ing old Archer upon me?” began North waving his 
hand with an air of languid protest. 

“Because you’re so confoundedly negligent that 
you ’ll not attend to anything of the sort unless it is 
kept before your mind,” retorted Wee sharply. 

“Oh, is that it? You take my interests very much 
to heart. Wee,” observed North with an indolent 
drawl which, as he perceived with secret satisfaction, 
was particularly exasperating to Mr. Wescott. 

“It isn’t your interests,” returned Wee shortly. 
“It’s my own, which are being sacrificed by my busi- 
ness connection with you.” 

“ My dear fellow, you don’t say so!” exclaimed 
North lifting his eyebrows with innocently amazed 
inquiry. 

“It’s a fact ! You are standing in my light as well 
as your own, and I say it’s a shame to sacrifice so 
many important interests to mere selfish indolence 


A LITTLE COMEDY OP ERRORS. 


97 


and mismanagement. Here’s this note to Archer; 
no one with any sense would have indorsed for 
Amity, but you wouldn’t listen to my advice, and 
so you became surety for a man who fin ally rewarded 
you by running away when the note fell due and 
leaving you to settle with Archer. It’s a swindle, 
pure and simple, on Amity’s part, but since you’ve 
assumed the obligation you ought to meet it in a 
prompt and business-like way. Instead of this, you 
have put old Archer off from time to time, always 
promising to attend to the matter and never doing 
it, till now the note is overdue by goodness knows 
how long, and the old fellow is raising the dickens 
about it all over town. If you imagine that you can 
manage, or rather mismanage your affairs in this 
way without injuring the credit of yourself and every- 
one else who is unfortunate enough to have any busi- 
ness connections with you, then you are vastly mis- 
taken. It’s an outrage. North, and I protest against 
it!” 

Mr. Wescott’s temper had gotten decidedly the 
better of him during this address, and the fact that 
he could elicit no response from North only increased 
his irritation. With a mighty effort restraining his 
strong desire to pitch the senior partner out of the 
office, the ruffled junior continued in a voice that 
trembled with suppressed wrath : 

“It’s all very well, Mr. North, for you to assume 


9S A little comedy oi^ erRor^. 

this air of indifference — it’s all very well for you to 
ignore my frequent advice and remonstrance ; but in 
the very nature of things this cannot go on forever. 
If 3 ^ou are determined to let your credit go to the 
dogs, I must refuse it the company of mine. I do not 
share your sublime disregard for public opinion, and 
my standing among business men is a matter of great 
importance tome. If this sort of thing goes on much 
longer I’ll dissolve partnership — I swear I will! ” 

“Will you,” inquired North provokingly. “Don’t, 
Wee ; what would become of me ? ” 

This was too obvious a satire, and Mr. Wescott’s 
anger rose to a white heat ; but smothering it suffi- 
ciently to mutter: “It’s all very well, but there’ll be 
an end to it before long!” he returned savagely to 
his writing and vouchsafed no further answer to 
North. 

The silence which thereupon ensued was as wel- 
come to the latter as Wee’s merciless attack had been 
unexpected. He allowed himself a few moments in 
which to regain his equilibrium (for notwithstanding 
the calm exterior that he had succeeded in preserving, 
he had felt greath" disturbed by Wee’s harangue); 
then noticing on the desk beside him a folded news- 
paper, he took it up and scanned it idly. It proved 
to be a New York daily of recent date, and on the 
margin he saw Ollin’s name. 

Before unfolding the paper he drew from his pocket 


A LIMLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


99 


a cigar, and lighted it, so entirely from the force of 
habit and the association of ideas by which, in his 
mind, newspapers and cigars were inseparably con- 
nected, that he was only half conscious of the act. 

With the first puff of fragrant smoke he had finally 
settled himself to glance over the paper when Wee 
looked up and sharply addressed him. 

“It seems to me, North, that you are trying to 
carry things with a particularly high hand this 
morning! ” he exclaimed, .sneeringly. 

North glanced up over his newspaper with an air 
of surprise. 

“Well, what now, Wee?^^ he demanded, holding 
his cigar lazily between two fingers and throwing 
his head back against the cushioned chair in which 
he was reclining. 

“Oh, nothing, nothing! As one of our future city 
officials, you are of course privileged to ride rough- 
shod over everyone else!” returned Wee with chill- 
ing sarcasm. 

“Ah!” thought North smiling a little, “Wee is 
jealous of NolPs political prospects. Is that the se- 
quel at the heels of all this amiability? ” 

Then aloud he continued with slight impatience in 
his tone and manner: 

“My dear Mr. Wescott, are you not a trifle un- 
reasonable ? I give you my word that I cannot im- 
agine how I have annoyed you now.” 


loo 


A tiTtLE COMEDV of ERROfeS. 


“It seems strange,” said Wee, still with the angry 
sneer on his face, “that you, who were the very first 
to insist that there should be no smoking in our 
private office, should also be the first one to trans- 
gress the rule. Yet no, it’s in character, after all — 
unreasonable and inconsistent to the last degree! ” 

North instantly rose, tossed aside the newspaper 
and took up his hat. He was struggling to maintain 
an outward gravity that should conciliate the much- 
offended Mr. Wescott, while inwardly he was con- 
vulsed with amusement. 

“I beg your pardon, Wee,” he said gravely. “You 
are certainly justified in complaining of me in this in- 
stance ; but I faithfully promise that I will never 
again transgress my own admirable rule. Since I 
cannot forego the pleasure of this cigar, I must deny 
myself the salutary influence of your society, painful 
to both of us though the separation be ; Mr. Wescott, 
good morning.” 

Wee shrugged his shoulders with an air of supreme 
contempt and condescended no answer beyond an 
inarticulate growl which might have been translated 
into a very unflattering comment on North’s deport- 
ment. Nothing daunted by this gracious benediction . 
North retired at once from the office. 

“So much accomplished, he reflected com- 
placently as he regained the street. “I have located 
Wee, and safely passed through the perilous ordeal 


A COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


101 


of visiting the office, and I consider that my position 
is materially strengthened by both of these achieve- 
ments. And now for a more agreeable duty! I must 
seek an interview with Mrs. Maynard.’’ 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Ham .: — I will speak daggrers to her. 


— Hamlet. 

Ant. B .: — I tell you, ’twill sound harshly in her ear. 

— Comedy of Errors. 


During the time that intervened between his leav- 
ing the office and presenting himself at No. 33 Dela- 
plaine street, North had hastily arranged the plan of 
his attack, his own assumptions and conclusions be- 
ing the basis thereof. There was a pitiless mood be- 
neath the suavity with which, on reaching Mrs. May- 
nard’s residence, he inquired for that lady. 

Williams, answering that Mrs. Maynard was at 
home and at leisure, took Mr. North’s hat with an air 
of great solicitude, leaving that gentleman to make 
his own way to the drawing-room and enter unan- 
nounced. 

Mrs. Maynard was quite alone there. Leaning 

back languidly in a crimson fauteuil, with the train 

of her white cashmere morning dress sweeping in 

soft graceful folds around her, she presented a picture 

that struck North’s artistic fancy at once. She was 

partially turned from him, as he entered; and, as 

she rested her head thoughtfully on one slender white 
102 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


103 


hand, the clear, delicate profile of face and figure in 
its perfect repose reminded him of an exquisite piece 
of statuary. He involuntarily paused to contemplate 
her; and, proof though he was against the fatal spell 
of beauty, even he, the cynical North, felt a singular 
thrill which was all admiration, but which might 
have been something else had the soul of an unspoiled 
man been in it. 

Suddenly recollecting himself, North advanced to- 
ward Mrs. Maynard across the rich, velvet carpet. 
The scarcely audible movement aroused her from her 
reverie. Lifting her head quickly she met North’s 
eyes ; a slight change came over her as she rose to 
receive him. She stood for an instant 

***** “neither self-possessed 
Nor startled, but betwixt this mood and that, 

Divided in a graceful quiet.” 

A delicate flush, a faint, sweet smile, a doubtful, 
questioning, wondering perplexity ; swiftly as a ray 
of light or a passing thought these changes came and 
went; and then, as if by magic— so quickly that 
North almost doubted whether she had changed at 
all — a cold stateliness came into her manner, a touch 
of hauteur that made him feel as jf an impassable dis- 
tance had suddenly been put between them; as, 
acknowledging his greeting with a gracious formality, 
she said in her lo \\q flexible tones : 


104 


A LITTLE OoMeLT OE ErEOES. 


“Is it possible, Mr. North? You never came more 
opportunely. I am suffering from ennui.' ^ 

“You, Mrs. Maynard?” cried North in gallant 
amazement. “Surely you should be exempt from 
that affliction ; I thought it was the peculiar privi- 
lege of commonplace mortals like myself.” 

“ Together with humility and all the other graces 
of character ? ” queried Mrs. Maynard as she mo- 
tioned to him to be seated and sank back languidly 
into the crimson depths of her fauteuil. “I always 
knew, Mr. North, that the latter were your peculiar 
privilege and possession.” 

“Is sarcasm an infallible antidote for ennui?" in- 
quired North, as he wheeled a chair forward slowly 
and seated himself near Mrs. Maynard, while his 
eyes held hers steadily for a full moment by their di- 
rect, quizzical glance. “If so, Mrs. Maynard, pro- 
ceed. Your mo.st cruel satires will sound in my ears 
like swee test music.” 

“Then I shall have no inducement to utter them. 
Y'ou quite disarm me, Mr. North. Besides, some 
mysterious intuition warns me that you have come 
this morning for something of far greater importance 
than a mere passage-at-arms. What is it, Mr. North ? 
Word from New York at last? Ah, I see that I am 
right ! Tell me at once, please, is the news favorable ? 
Oh, it must be — I cannot endure the thought of dis- 
appointment ! ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


105 


The delicate color that had flushed into her cheek 
deepened now, and her dark eyes were sparkling with 
excitement as, clasping her hands daintily, she looked 
up at North with a bewitching expression of hope 
and suspense. 

A peculiar emotion which was neither pity nor 
remorse, yet curiously resembling both, held North 
silent for a brief time; then with his grave, keen 
glance resting on Mrs. Maynard he answered in a 
low tone : 

“Unhappily for me, Mrs. Maynard, it has been be- 
yond my power to control this case or determine the 
results to suit ourselves. But whatever we may 
have to regret, our suspense on at least one point is 
ended, and on this we may well congratulate our- 
selves.” 

An expression of dismay, succeeded quickly by 
incredulity, swept over Mrs. Maynard’s counte- 
nance. Leaning forward in her chair she exclaimed 
imperiously : 

“You are speaking in riddles, Mr. North! Pray 
tell me, to what important announcement are these 
vague and general observations the prelude?” 

“Why — ah — in fact, Mrs. Maynard, nothing could 
be worse;” and North, after vainly casting about 
for some happy phraseology by which to soften the 
intelligence, now plunged recklessly into the explana- 
tion. “Nothing could be worse than the news that 


106 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Hopkins and Shepherd have sent us. It is my duty 
to inform you that a decision was reached in our 
case on Wednesday.” 

A decision at last ! and what is it ? ” 

‘‘A deathblow to your hopes and to mine, Mrs. 
Maynard. We have suffered a total defeat ! ” 

As he spoke in a cool, deliberate way, Mrs. May- 
nard sank back in her chair as if quite overcome by 
the announcement. 

Quickly rallying, however, she exclaimed in reso- 
lutely incredulous tones : 

“ Then we have lost our case ? Oh, Mr. North, how 
can this have happened? We were so well fortified 
at ever}^ point, even granting their claims concerning 
the niece to be correct; so you have repeatedly as- 
sured me yourself, Mr. North — so Hopkins and Shep- 
herd have reiterated again and again! ” 

A grim little smile crept upward from the drooping 
ends of North’s mustache and just illuminated for an 
instant the sharp glance of his eyes. When he spoke 
his tones seemed full of mocking sarcasm. 

“Well fortified? So we did appear to be. It was 
a strong case until the tearing and rending of our 
opponents began ; then our really unsubstantial fabric 
went to tatters in an instant.” 

“Mr. North, what do you mean?” demanded Mrs. 
Maynard while her beautiful dark eyes grew darker 
still with alarm and excitement. “Let me know the 


A LITTlvE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 107 

whole truth — the worst that there is to tell ! Speak 
plainly, if you please!’^ 

“I will do so, Mrs. Maynard, if you insist, although 
the plain truth is not always an agreeable thing to 
hear. In brief, then, the will that was put forward 
in support of your claim to Mrs. Dunkirk’s fortune 
has been openly declared, and furthermore proven to 
be, a forgery ! ” 
forgery!” 

Mrs. Maynard repeated these words mechanically, 
as if she were unconscious of speaking aloud ; then 
with sudden vehemence she cried : 

“Who says it is a forgery ! Who dares to say so ? 
How can they prove it ? ” 

North was watching her closely, realizing with how 
much significance her words and manner at this crisis 
would be weighted ; yet he was unable to determine 
the precise effect produced upon her by his announce- 
ment. That she was startled and dismayed he could 
of course perceive at a glance ; beyond this he could 
not analyze her emotions. Holding himself steadily 
in hand and continuing his watchfulness of her, he 
replied to her last excited words with a touch of reck- 
less nonchalance in his manner. 

“Oh, the proofs are invincible, Mrs. Maynard. I, 
myself, see clearly now that it was very poor policy 
to risk that business.” 

He spoke at random, knowingthat his first venture 


los 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


must be made more or less daringly in the dark; but 
no sooner were the words uttered than he congratu- 
lated himself that his random shot had hit the mark. 

“Poor policy!” repeated Mrs. Maynard in per- 
plexed tones, while she raised her eyebrows inquir- 
ingly. “And pray, Mr. North, who sanctioned this 
poor policy? ” 

“Precisely what I propose to find out,” said North 
to himself, with grim determination. “By strong 
implication, myself — or rather Noll. However, that 
remains to be established.” 

Then to Mrs. Maynard he added in his most con- 
ciliatory tones : 

“Oh, well, Mrs. Maynard, we can scarcely afford 
to discuss that point at the present interesting crisis. 
Of course, whatever has been done thus far has been 
undertaken with the very best intentions and a con- 
fident anticipation of success. A few days ago our 
position seemed tenable enough ; now, however, since 
the case has been subjected to suck a merciless ex- 
amination, I see very clearly the weak and utterly 
untenable points. The fact is, Mrs. Maynard, that 
forgery, as I now perceive, was far from skillfully 
contrived, and the best we can say for — ah — for the 
perpetrators thereof” — he paused just for an instant 
here, with a meditative little laugh, while he mental- 
ly commented, “There! I got over that very neat- 
ly !”—“ is, that it proves them to be rather inexperi- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


109 


enced in such work. Now, let me go over the whole 
ground, Mrs. Maynard,” he added more seriously, 
“and point out to you the fatal discrepancies that 
led to our de — defeat.” 

He had commenced to say “detection,” but just as 
the word was trembling on his lips he substituted 
for it the more non-committal term. 

Mrs. Maynard having assented silently to his prop- 
osition, he proceeded at once to his critical review 
of the forged will. 

“In the first place,” he began looking at her so 
steadily and keenly, with such strange attentiveness 
that her eyes fell, she scarcely knew why, “this docu- 
ment purporting to be the last will and testament 
of Mrs. Jane Dunkirk was represented to be, 
and in truth did appear to be, in the hand- 
writing of James Kernan, Esq., now deceased, but 
formally a prominent New York lawyer. It was 
in evidence, and not disputed at all, that the late Mr. 
Kernan was for several years — a period embracing 
the date of this will — Mrs. Dunkirk’s attorney, and 
naturally, the person to whom she would intrust the 
drawing of this document. So far, very good. There 
is a fair degree of plausibility for us, just on the sur- 
face. But unfortunately competent evidence was 
produced by Hunter and Ketchum, showing that on 
or about the 19th of July, which is the date of our 
will, you know, and for a certain time previous and 


110 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


subsequent to that date, the late Mr. Kernan was in 
Europe, and therefore he could not have had any act- 
ive personal share in this or any other transaction 
of like nature that may have occurred in New York 
during that time. In short, they proved by the ut- 
ter impossibility of the thing, that the late Mr. Ker- 
nan did not draw that will, all our representations 
to that effect notwithstanding ! There, you perceive, 
is their first point, as clear as the noonday; it is 
something that we cannot possibly controvert.’’ 

“Can it be possible!” exclaimed Mrs. Maynard look- 
ing up at him with the words. “They proved, did 
you sa 3 % Mr. North, proved that Mr. Kernan was in 
Europe as early as the 19th of July ? ” 

“They proved it, Mrs. Maynard, in black and 
white ; proved it by his own unconscious testimony ; 
proved it, I regret to add, beyond a peradventure or 
a shadow of doubt.” 

“Oh,” she cried impulsively with a quick disdain- 
ful little gesture, “to think, Mr. North, that we 
should have failed to detect so fatal a discrepancy as 
that!” 

“It is amazing,” assented North dryly. “Nor is 
this all. You see, the fault lies primarily in that 
date. In the second place, one of the witnesses— let 
me see, what was his name?” He threw his head 
back reflectively, and the sharp, gray eyes swept the 
frescoed ceiling for an instant. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Ill 


“Was it Norristown?” suggested Mrs. Maynard, 
faintly, as she twined the slender glittering links of 
her watch-chain around her finger, in a preoccupied 
way. 

“It was Norristown, thank you!” The sharp gray 
eyes returned with the words to Mrs. Maynard’s face. 
“Well, then, it was shown conclusively that Norris- 
town died exactly ten days previous to the date of 
the will (an unquestionable by the way! ) which 

important fact, inthe judgment of the court, rendered 
all his subsequent proceedings invalid, at least within 
that jurisdiction.” 

“Norristown is dead?” echoed Mrs. Maynard, 
with a quick change of color. Then she added in a 
tone of tragical despair : 

“ I perceive that you are right, Mr. North; shred 
by shred the unsubstantial fabric is going to tatters ! 
What next? ” 

“Next,” pursued North, with a rather inexplicable 
smile, “we come to the disclosures made by the ex- 
perts. The whole affair, you see, has been merciless- 
ly sifted. Hunter and Ketchum are unrelenting.” 

“Unprincipled! Mercenary! ” cried Mrs. Maynard 
with a sudden little flash of resentment. “All that 
they wish is to secure for themselves handsome fees 
from the estate ! ” 

“Oh, possibly,” returned North with indolent 
amusement. “Nevertheless, my dear Mrs, Maynard, 


112 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


whatever their motive, the fact remains — they are 
relentless. Up to this point the only evidence offered 
has been the ordinary verbal and documentary sort ; 
but now to clinch the previous testimony the experts 
are introduced.” 

“Experts?” repeated Mrs. Maynard in a tone of 
vague speculation. 

“Yes; chirographical experts, you know, to decide 
as to the genuineness of the signatures. Submitting 
the document to the usual tests, in connection with 
unmistakably genuine specimens of the hand-writing 
of the attorney, the testatrix and the witnesses, the 
experts unhesitatingly swore that the will was a 
forgery from beginning to end. Thus you 
see, Mrs. Maynard,” and here North leaned back 
in his chair and folded his arms composedly, 
half closing his eyes to complete the effect of a super- 
ficially indifferent manner, “they have made affairs 
extremely awkward for us. Who knows, now, for in- 
stance, who may be suspected of having had a hand 
in this business ? Why, they may even honor me 
with some such suspicion; there’s no doubt of the 
possibility! ” 

“Mr. North!” 

Mrs. Maynard had risen excitedly, and she was 
now pacing restlessly to and fro, her trailing dress 
sweeping over the carpet in soft creamy folds. Her 


A comedy oe errors. 


113 


delicate dark brows were contracted, her expression 
was troubled, her tone edged with asperity. 

“Mr. North ! I must ask you not to trifle. Affairs 
are far too serious for that. Tell me, please, precise- 
ly how we stand. This forgery having been discov- 
ered, the will, of course, is set aside. Does the mat- 
ter end there, or is it to be investigated ? ” 

North was radiant. 

“That is cleverly to the point!” he declared to 
himself with admiring approval ; then to Mrs. May- 
nard he responded guardedly: 

“ Oh, there will be an investigation, of course. The 
affair is quite too serious, as you say — forgery and 
conspiracy, you know; state prison offence, if proven 
— to be passed over. For this reason,” he added 
with a significant glance at Mrs. Maynard, “I ad- 
vise that take immediate action in the matter.” 

“I, Mr. North ? ” she echoed faintly, as she paused 
and looked appealingly at him. 

He was leaning back languidly, the very picture of 
graceful composure, with his elbows resting on the 
arms of his chair, and his delicately white hands 
clasped idly, while he trifled with the solitaire ring 
on his little finger. Even in the midst of her troubled 
thoughts Mrs. Maynard’s eye caught the fire and 
sparkle of the diamond. She had never noticed it be- 
fore. 

“I, Mr. North?” She repeated, with vague cau- 


114 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


tion; for in North glance and manner there was 
something subtle, intangible, that placed her, she 
knew not why, instantly upon her guard. “And 
pray, why should I move in an investigation ? 

North waited for a moment to give a greater effect 
to his answer, while he steadily returned Mrs. May- 
nard’s inquiring gaze. Then with deliberate emphasis 
he said : 

“Why should you move in an investigation, Mrs. 
Maynard? The reason is obvious; to clear yourself 
of all suspicion of complicity in this forgery! ” 

She started, and her lips grew ashen. 

“Do they suspect weP^' Her tone was scarcely 
audible ; her breath came quickly in nervous, irregu- 
lar gasps. 

“How can I tell, Mrs. Ma^mard? Whatever sus- 
picions there may be in regard to this affair, they are 
safely locked up thus far in the wise brains of our op- 
ponents. You and I are not likely to be the first 
ones to hear of them I ” 

There was an unmistakable significance in tone 
and words. He threw his head back with an indo- 
lent laugh, and looked up sharply to note the effect. 

A quick color rose to her brow, a sudden flash 
came into her brown eyes, a nervous irritability be- 
trayed itself in her manner ; but the source of this 
very perceptible agitation he did not feel justified, at 
that point, in definitely assuming. His own sus- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 115 

picion, however, remained unshaken, and he deter- 
mined to hold resolutely to the slight advantage al- 
ready gained, and, if possible, to push it still farther. 

“Now consider, Mrs. Maynard,” he resumed in an 
argumentative way, “consider how the case must 
look to our opponents. You are the claimant, 
the person in whose interest this will was forged. 
Mr. North is your confidential legal adviser, presum- 
ably the person by whom your whole course has been 
dictated. It has already been established that the 
New York lawyers who represented you in court, 
Messrs. Hopkins and Shepherd, are in no manner 
connected with the forgery. Practically, then, this 
divides the responsibility between the claimant and 
her confidential legal adviser. At the very outset, 
however, arise two separate and distinct hypotheses, 
either of which is sufficiently plausible. First, that 
you were fully aware of the character of that will 
before it was discovered in court, — in fact, when it 
was first put forward in support of your claim, — 
and an active and willing agent in the conspiracy by 
which it was produced ; or, secondly, that you are 
the innocent victim of a scheming and dishonest law- 
yer, — myself, for instance, — who, not having the 
fear of the law before his eyes, forged this will by his 
own unaided efforts, palmed it off upon you as a gen- 
uine document, and boldly carried it into court. 


116 


A LlTi'LE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Have you followed me clearly thus far, Mrs. May- 
nard? Do you quite comprehend my meaning? ” 

He broke off anxiously here, and awaited her re- 
sponse. 

Mrs. Maynard was again restlessly pacing the 
floor with head slightly bowed and hands clasped 
listlessly before her. One moment of silence inter- 
vened between North’s question and her answer; 
then turning and looking gravely at him she said : 

“ Thus far I think I understand you, Mr. North, 
but I confess there is something beyond your words 
that I cannot quite divine. I am in no mood for 
penetrating mysteries when they touch upon a mat- 
ter of such vital importance ; but I will endeavor to 
comprehend your meaning so far as you will trouble 
yourself to render it intelligible to me.” 

She turned from him with the words and continued 
her slow pacing. North reflected gravely upon her 
answer; then, failing to make anything satisfactory 
of it, he hastened his meditated coup d^etat. 

“Thank you, Mrs. Maynard,” he said calmly. 
“That is all that I can possibly ask. Now, I venture 
to predict that you would have no difficulty what- 
ever in convincing the court. Hunter and Kctchum, 
- and the public generally, that the latter hypothesis is 
correct — that the entire responsibility of this forgery 
rests upon myself Very good; suppose, then, that 
you consent to adopt this measure, which is certainly 


A LlT^TLfi COMKDY O? ERRORS. 


117 


Open to you, and I agree to close my lips and make 
no sign; or, to make matters pleasanter all around, 
take myself off suddenly to Europe. In such a case 
your first step will be to move at once in an investi- 
gation.” 

North spoke slowly and distinctly, realizing all the 
daring of this venture, all the disastrous conse- 
quences of a false move. He was nerved for any re- 
sult, prepared for an adroit change of base if Mrs. 
Maynard’s countenance or manner should warn him 
that he had gone too far in his assumptions. He had 
hardly expected this; yet he was not prepared for the 
overwhelming confirmation that his suspicions now 
received. 

While he was speaking those last words he saw a 
sudden quiver seize her whole frame as if a powerful 
electric current had passed through her ; the delicate 
white hands that had been so listlessly relaxed 
were interlaced now in a convulsive clasp that caused 
their sparkling rings to send out quivering rays of 
light; she turned so white that even her lips were 
perfectly colorless. Breaking off abruptly in her 
restless pacing, she turned toward North with pas- 
sionate eagerness and seemed to be on the point of 
addressing him, of uttering some vehement demand. 
The white lips parted, but as if the look that she en- 
countered from his steady gray eyes, the conscious 
power of mastery that, like an invisible atmosphere 


118 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


surrounded him, had frozen the words ere they were 
uttered, the protest, demand, appeal — whatever it 
was that had so nearly forced itself passionately up- 
on him — died on her lips, and only a faint, quivering 
sigh escaped them. Then she sank down in a chair, 
still white as death ; all her cold self-possession, all her 
magnificent hauteur replaced by a look of pitiful de- 
spair. If ever a proud woman’s heart could break, 
then surely in that moment Mrs. Maynard must have 
felt the bitterness of that experience. 

Was it fear? Was it remorse? Or what was the 
emotion that had thus strangely unnerved her? 
North could only speculate ; the certainty lay beyond 
his present reach. 

A death-like silence fell upon the room. It became 
oppressive to North ; he finally spoke again, his low 
voice ringing out on the stillness in clear decisive 
tones. 

“Mrs. Maynard, will you act upon my suggestion ? 
Will you heed my earnest wish and advice? You 
do not know, you cannot realize, all that may be at 
stake, or you would not hesitate for one moment. I 
am not advising you at random; I have viewed the 
case from every possible standpoint, and I can see no 
other course for you to take. For myself I shall offer 
no defence. I am prepared to face whatever conse- 
quences I have incurred. Already our own lawyers 
suspect us; to-morrow — this very day— the truth 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


119 


may all become known. There is little time for you 
to act; your resolution must be taken at once. Will 
you promise that you will do as I have advised?” 

There was no trace of lightness or mockery in his 
manner now ; so intensely interested was he in the 
result of this last bold venture that an earnestness 
quite different from anything that he had yet exhib- 
ited made his manner seem almost as tragical as 
Mrs. Maynard’s. 

She started to her feet, the color flushing vividly 
over her white face ; a singular light, half defiant, 
half tender, but full of suppressed excitement came 
into the beautiful brown eyes ; a certain impulsive- 
ness which under ordinary circumstances was only 
half suggested in her manner, seemed to take posses- 
sion of her. She looked for the moment as if sudden- 
ly lifted from the depths of despairing grief to the 
heights of a sublime daring, sacrifice, self-abandon- 
ment. 

North rose quickly. He had a dim sense of im- 
pending danger, a confused intention of quelling the 
storm that he had evoked, before it could break upon 
his head. But fate kindly interposed in his behalf. 

There was the sound of someone at the drawing- 
room door; starting a little and turning toward the 
door, Mrs. Maynard controlled herself by a visible 
effort, and said, in her ordinary tone : 

‘Hs that you, Williams ? Come in.” 


120 


A LIl'TLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


The footman, thus bidden, presented himself with 
a low bow and his habitual air of apology. 

“Major Maynard’s compliments,” he said, “and 
will Mrs. Maynard soon be ready to drive? ” 

“Yes, Williams. In half an hour. Tell the major 
so,” answered Mrs. Maynard with irritable haste. 

The footman promptly retired ; then, turning again 
toward North, Mrs. Maynard continued with an evi- 
dent effort to speak lightly, though her tone and 
words contrasted strangely with the death-like pal- 
lor of her face : 

“ That dreadful man ! He insists upon my driving 
with him this morning, and he will not be put off, 
though I have pleaded every possible excuse. It is 
very rude to send you away, Mr. North, but the ma- 
jor’s will is our law, and he has to be humored like a 
child.” 

North slowly walked across the drawing-room with 
his head bent and his eyes fixed upon the carpet, un- 
til he reached the arch doorway with its sweeping 
portiere ; then turning around he lifted his head and 
looked calmly at Mrs. Maynard across the little dis- 
tance separating them. There was a faint flush of 
excitement on his face, a smouldering fire in his eyes 
a curious touch of repression in his manner; strangely, 
too, a suggestion of triumph that he vainly sought 
to suppress. 

“I am obliged to go now, Mrs. Maynard,” he said 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


121 


slowly, “but I shall see you soon again. In the 
meantime, I ask you to consider very seriously the 
suggestion that I have offered. It is vitally worthy 
of your attention.” 

Again the color came and went in her cheeks, her 
breath fluttered and her white fingers closed con- 
vulsively together. It was evident that at his words 
some powerful tide of emotion had swept over her, 
almost overwhelming her with its force, but, quickly 
rallying, she controlled herself so resolutely that both 
voice and manner were icily calm when she answered 
him. 

“Your suggestion, Mr. North?” There was a 
delicate sarcasm in her tone as she repeated the 
words. “It is unworthy of me — I will not give it a 
second thought ! Have you so little true idea of me^ 
then ? Do you really believe me to be capable of the 
utter heartlessness of such a course? Oh, never! 
Even if I did not blame myself so bitterly for this — 
and my self-reproach is unspeakable ! — I could never 
consent to take such a course as that. Whatever 
consequences may threaten you, whatever conse- 
quences may overtake you, incurred for my sake,” — 
her voice was but faintly audible here, and her eyes, 
now filled with tears, fell before the grave, steady 
gaze of his,” — let me share! ” 

North bowed his head and stood for a moment a 
very effective figure, tall, slender and motionless, out- 


122 


A 1.ITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


lined against the vortiere. His whole attitude ex- 
pressed more than the most vehement words could 
have told of deep overmastering emotion; but his 
eyes, as they were bent upon the floor, flashed only 
with a cool and merciless triumph. 

“So, I was right! ” he thought — with a cruel pas- 
sionate exultation. “Has she not admitted it com- 
pletely? Now for proofs more tangible, and then I 
shall hold everything in my own hands 1 ” 

The brief dramatic silence came to an end, and in 
quite his usual tones North said, lifting his eyes to 
Mrs. Maynard’s face: 

“When may I come again to consult with you fur- 
ther about this matter, Mrs. Maynard? ” 

There was aweary eflbrt shown in the answer that 
come in low tones from the still white lips : 

“I am at leisure every morning except Wednesdays. 
Come when you will — when it is necessary.” 

He bowed and turned away from her, carrying 
with him a last vague impression that as he disap- 
peared beyond the sweeping portiere her voice had 
uttered a name in a swift, impassioned, half-smothered 
appeal — not his name, though evidently the appeal 
was meant for him. 


CHAPTER IX. 


Duke : — Then go you forth, 

And fortune play upon your prosperous helm. 

—All's Well that Ends Well. 


Returning to the Clement House, North retired to 
the privacy of his own apartments, intending to give 
himself up to a serious review of his position. 

He had brought with him the noon edition of one 
of the daily papers ; and, suddenly recollecting it, he 
drew it from his pocket and glanced carelessly at the 
telegraphic news. 

^‘Oh, I see! ” he exclaimed with a sudden start of 
recollection. ‘‘The Daily Times; this is the paper 
that Warner mentioned in connection with my friend 
Clipper. By the way, let me see if that eulogistic 
leader is in it. ‘A Retrospective Glance ^ — that is not 
it, of course; ‘A Word To The Wise’ — that might 
refer to me; ah, here it is. ‘Our Candidate for City 
Attorney.’ Now I shall see what my friend Clipper 
has to say about me.” 

And he immediately became absorbed in the edito- 
rial, which ran thus : 

“It has always been the policy of The Times to support the ad- 
ministration; consequently when, two years ago, the popular 

123 


124 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


outcry for ‘Noyes and Reform’ — aided, as the public has since 
had reason to believe, by such practical illustrations of reform as 
bribery, intimidation and ballot-box stuffing — turned the scale 
against the men whom we had supported and would gladly have 
seen filling the chief municipal offices, we accepted our defeat 
gracefully and commenced at once to fight the battles of the gen- 
tlemen who had been fairly or otherwise elected. They started 
out with flying colors and such glowing prophesies of what they 
were going to do, that the impression grew abroad that the mil- 
lennium was about to dawn upon X . For a time all went 

well, and the besom of reform with which the new administration 
had promised to sweep away all cobwebs from the structure 
of city government was shaken vigorously in our faces. NeTer 
theless, the public waited in vain for any substantial results. A 
few policemen were removed from the force, ostensibly for neglect 
of duty, but really because it had been ascertained that they had 
voted against Mayor Noyes! This was reform 1 A clerk was re- 
moved from one of the departments at the urgent demand of the 
city press, because of his ffagrant misdemeanors in office. He had 
done efficient campaign work for the successful party, however, 
and in recognition of this service he was soon after put into a 
position of trust, where to-day he flaunts his incapacity and loose 
morals in the face of the public with the defiant ‘ What are you 
going to do about it ? ’ which has always been the favorite taunt 
of such pampered scoundrels. This also is reform, with a very 
bigR! A few such instances were enough for The Times. We 
could not, even for the principle of public unity, defend an admin- 
istration that permitted and committed such glaring abuses of 
executive authority, and we therefore renounced all allegiance to 
the reigning powers, calling upon the people to take the work of 
reform out of the incompetent hands to which they had intrusted 
it and carry it on themselves, beginning at the seat of govern- 
ment, where they would find an abundant field of labor. For this 
we have been assailed and falsified by the zealous friends of the 
administration, whose championship has not been ‘like Dian’s 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


125 


kiss, unasked, unsought,’ but, on the contrary, has been knocked 
down to the highest bidder in the ‘ peremptory sale ’ which their 
circumstances rendered necessary; but in our war upon the un- 
blushing malfeasance in office which has already brought con- 
tempt upon X , we have had the cordial support of all good 

citizens. There are men in X to-day who feel the disgrace into 

which our unworthy officials have brought us, as keenly as if it 
were a personal reproach, and who are willing for the sake of the 
public good to undertake the formidable task of purifying our 
local politics. Conspicuous among these gentlemen is Ollin North, 
Esquire, the distinguished citizen who has honored us by becom- 
ing our candidate for city attorney. It will be remembered that 
The Times was the first paper in the city to suggest Mr, North’s 
candidacy for this office, though he now has the unanimous sup- 
port of our reputable press, irrespective of party. In consequence 
of our active participation in the movement that secured this gen- 
tleman’s nomination — and to no one can this happy result be at- 
tributed more directly than to Colonel Clipper — we feel a peculiar 
interest in the fortunes of Mr. North ; though of course The Times, 
cordially desires and confidently anticipates a sweeping victory 
for our entire ticket. 

“ Of Ollin North’s blameless record as a professional man and as 
a citizen we could not say one word of praise that would not be 
heartily indorsed by all of our readers, whatever their party bias 
or affiliation. Socially, professionally and politically he is a man 
of unmeasured popularity. Ever since he first came among us, 
now three years ago, a young lawyer with no credentials save a 
polished address, a genial, courteous disposition and a knowledge 
of his profession that soon placed him long strides ahead of even 
older and more experienced practitioners, he has possessed a 
strong hold on the regard of the public and an undisputed social 
position of which he may well be proud. Altogether, the candi- 
dacy of such a gentleman as Ollin North means something more 
than the mere elevation of one man to a public office and the step- 
ping out of another, which is commonly the sum and substance of 


126 


4 

A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

an election. It means that the people of X , awakening from 

the lethargy in which too long they have indulged, have deter- 
mined to place in office men in whose purity they can feel implicit 
trust and to whose after-record they may point with pride. Mr. 
North is conspicuously such a man. Of his especial qualifications 
for this office no one that has watched his professional career for 
the past three years can have any doubt; and the social prestige 
that he will carry with him into the office will do much toward 
elevating the tone of our local politics. 

“Voters, consider well the situation. The greatest danger that 
can possibly threaten us is at our doors. A gulf deeper and wider 
and more implacable than that which threatened the destruction 
of Rome is yawning at our feet; it demands the sacrifice of our 
noblest talent, the pride of our social life, the flower of our chiv- 
alry, ere it will consent to close. Mr. North, like brave Curtius 
of old, stands forth as our deliverer, and is ready to fling himself 
into the gulf, that our municipal government may be saved. The 
office can confer no honor upon him; he will honor the office. 
Since he has consented to act as our candidate, not for the sake 
of any good that may thereby result to himself, but from the pa- 
triotic desire to take the control of our public affairs out of the 
hands of the unscrupulous demagogues who have already brought 
us so perilously near the verge of ruin, let us show our apprecia- 
tion of his service by uniting one and all, whatever our party, 
whatever our prejudices, whatever our feeling toward the other 
candidates may be, by giving him a vote that shall be as one 
voice — the unanimous vote of the city.“ 

The expression on Allan North’s face as he reached 
the conclusion of the article, furnished a rather grim 
commentary on Colonel Clipper’s enthusiastic eulo- 
gium. But when, after a few moments meditation 
with that cynical little smile lingering on his lip, he 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 127 

tossed the paper aside, it was merely with the com- 
ment : 

must try to call on Colonel Clipper to-day. 
After I have seen and talked with him I shall be safely 
past one more danger which at present seriously em- 
barrasses my peace of mind.’’ 

Having settled himself in an easy-chair with a per- 
fumed cigar which called up a momentary amused 
recollection of Wee and the office, he fell to reviewing 
his second call on Mrs. Maynard and summing up 
the results. 

^‘On the whole,” he reflected with a self-satisfied 
little smile, as he lay back in his chair and watched 
the blue smoke circling in delicate puffs and wreaths 
around his head, “I may consider this morning’s call 
quite a commendable stroke of business. I find that 
every hypothesis upon which I started out has been 
strengthened, every suspicion confirmed. The links 
are not yet connected, but I see before me a chain 
of evidence which I am positive will in time be com- 
plete. 1 have a much more confident feeling now in 
regard to my position with Mrs. Maynard, and my 
future investigations, so far as she is concerned, will 
be comparatively easy to pursue, if I proceed with 
due caution. I think when I next see her I will ques- 
tion her in regard to that letter of Mrs. Dunkirk’s, of 
which, by the way, neither of us spoke to-day. I 
can scarcely determine what use Noll hoped to make 


128 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


of such a document; though probably he had no defi- 
nite knowledge of its contents and took it entirely 
at Mrs. Maynard’s valuation. If she imagines that 
it would constitute for her a legal claim to that fort- 
une, she is greatly in error. However, I will be in- 
dulgent to the fancy, if it exists, and thus derive 
whatever benefit to my side of the case a thorough 
canvassing of the document may furnish. By skill- 
fully arranging my questions concerning it, I may 
be able to gain some insight into her personal rela- 
tions to Mrs. Dunkirk ; not that this is material ex- 
actly, but it is relevant. I wish, if possible, to learn 
her whole personal history so far as it has any near 
or remote connection with this case. To be sure, I 
know the story set forth by Hunter and Ketchum, 
in which she is made to figure as a sort of juvenile 
adventuress with a chronic weakness for coveting 
her neighbor’s wealth, and consequently a soul not 
above the temptations that beset the lovers of filthy 
lucre. She is an orphan, so H. and K. maintain, the 
only child of a widow with whom Mrs. Dunkirk was 
once intimately acquainted, who, when her own 
mother died, leaving her a slender bank-account, 
managed to gain admission to Mrs. Dunkirk’s house- 
hold ; in the hope, I am further assured, that by skill- 
fully playing her cards she might become the childless 
old lady’s heir. Well, after living with Mrs. Dun- 
kirk for five years, and presumably insinuating her- 


A LITT'LE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


129 


self into the good graces of the old lady, she married 
this Maynard — Major Maynard — and they went 
abroad for a few months. This much I have learned 
from Hunter and Ketchum; however, I am not satis- 
fied to accept the story on the mere strength of their 
assertion. I should at least like to hear the case 
stated by Mrs. Maynard herself. 

“Now,” North’s soliloquy ran on, “H. and K. 
stoutly maintain that there never was any legal 
adoption of Airs. Maynard — Nina — what was her 
maiden name? Oh, Nina Kingsbury — by Mrs. Dun- 
kirk; that her position in the household during those 
live 3^ears was merel^^ that of— well, a ward, though 
there was no legal guardianship, either. They ad- 
mit that during that period of five years Mrs. Dun- 
kirk made a will in which she bequeathed her fortune 
without reservation, except for a legacy of a few 
thousand dollars to one old family servant, to her 
young friend, Nina Kingsbury. Shortly after the 
marriage of that young lady, however, some rumor 
revived Airs. Dunkirk’s old belief that her brother’s 
daughter was still living, and could be found ; and 
acting upon that belief, the old lady destro3red her 
will. And now the mooted question is : Didsheever 
make another? Hunter and Ketchum say, ‘No,’ and 
they have kept to this denial through ever3Thing; but 
Hopkins and Shepherd, acting upon the instructions 
of Mrs. Maynard and my brother Ollin, bring for- 


130 A LIWLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 

ward a document apparently genuine and well certi- 
fied, and affirm, ‘She did make a second will, and 
here it is ! ’ Of the manner in which this forgery was 
handled by my colleagues, I can only say that it 
was merciless, but masterly. 

“Now, Mrs. Maynard was aware, it seems, of the 
existence of that first will, and she also knew about 
its being destroyed ; though how she came to be in 
possession of such direct means of communication 
with Mrs. Dunkirk’s end of the line, and how she 
contrived to gain information which that lad}^ would 
not be at all likely to furnish her, I cannot for my 
life conjecture. Here is the place where a missing 
link must be supplied. There is evidently a third 
party somewhere ! However, acting upon her own 
knowledge of the circumstances whenever, wherever 
and however gained, she proceeded, with the aid of 
my brother and that third person, whose identity I 
must yet discover, to concoct the conspiracy out of 
which grew this forged will. 

“At this point arises the question: How came 
this forged will to be discovered in Mrs. Dunkirk’s 
desk after the first fruitless search for a will had been 
abandoned? This is one of the mysteries that I 
must try to solve. That Noll did not place it there 
I would stake my life. That Mrs. Maynard did not 
do so, seems equally evident. Who, then, did? That 
undiscovered third person ! Nothing could be more 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


181 


obvious. Now, where is the clue that shall lead to 
the discovery of that third conspirator? Mrs. May- 
nard must furnish it ; and this is one result toward 
which I must bend my energies when I see her next. 
* * * Taking it all in all, this case grows suffi- 
ciently interesting! I anticipate even some degree of 
pleasure, from a purely professional standpoint, in 
tracing it all up; taking a more personal view of the 
matter — ” 

At this point his thoughts, instead of pursuing the 
straight line of definiteness, began to circle dreamily 
around the many possibilities of the case. A vivid 
recollection of that last little scene with Mrs. May- 
nard came over him ; there was a grave speculative 
smile on his face as he now reviewed it. 

“I wonder how often these interesting little crises 
are liableto occur ? ” he mused apprehensively. “Mrs. 
Maynard evidently regarded my proposition to take 
upon myself all the consequences of this forgery with- 
out revealing her share in the transaction, as a par- 
ticularly edifying exhibition of tender-hearted chiv- 
alry. Little does she know Allan North I Before I 
would languish in durance vile for lovely woman’s 
sake, I should try to keep the laws of my country in 
something at least approximating an unshattered 
condition. That is n’t my way of showing devotion. 
On the contrary I indorse the sentiment of the poet 
who sang in immortal verse : 


132 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

‘ I’d sigh for her, 

‘ I’d cry for her, 

‘But hang me if I’d die for her! ’ 

or sacrifice myself in any other way ! True, there^s 
no telling what I might do if I were in love — that 
semi-demented condition in which no man should be 
held accountable for his actions. I never was in love 
but once, and that time — well, I’m none the worse 
for it now! But at first — By Jove! Itwashardto 
believe that Myra could be false to me, that such a 
strange inexplicable shadow could come between us 
and separate us forever! Well, it didn’t break my 
heart! Fortunately that important organ isn’t 
made of such brittle material ; but it has hardened 
my character, increased my recklessness, intensified 
all my faults. At least, my friends, with true friendly 
candor, assure me that I have changed thus within 
the last four years; and I know only too well what 
is the bitter drop that has thus diffused itself through- 
out the whole draught of my life. The wound in my 
heart healed quickly, and left no visible trace ; but 
there is a restless discontent and longing there that 
nothing has ever satisfied. Myra! Myra! It is 
you that I want — you alone! ” 

He started up and paced to and fro for several mo- 
ments. In that brief time he seemed completely 
transformed, there was such forceful emotion, such 
passion and longing in his rapidly -changing counte- 


nance. 


A little Comedt of Errors. 


133 


But he was resolutely fighting against this mood, 
having sworn long ago that he would never yield to 
such weakness; and at last he conquered himself, 
though it was with sternly-set lips and a few hard 
lines in his brow. 

Resolutely forcing his thoughts from the bitter past 
to the present and future, he took out his memoran- 
dum-book and wrote briefly the results of his first 

twenty-four hours in X ; then, having still an 

hour’s leisure before dinner, he decided to improve it 
by making his meditated call upon Colonel Clipper. 


CHAPTER X. 


Phi .: — I beseech you all, be better known to this gentleman. 

— Cymbelline. 


“ I HOPE I shall find my friend Clipper in his office/^ 
was the reflection with which Allan North started 
out, after carefully noting the address of the Times 
building. ‘‘What a facile quill he wields ! I daresay 
he doesn’t exaggerate Noll’s popularity in the least. 
Noll is just the sort of fellow to take everyone by 
storm, and I have already had abundant evidence of 

the devotion that is showered upon him here in X ; 

a devotion of which I am just now the unworthy re- 
cipient — the lightning-rod toward which run all the 
currents of electricity with which the political atmos- 
phere is overcharged. The bright sunlight of popular 
favor is somewhat dazzling to my unaccustomed 
eyes; no wonder that so many public men, after 
basking for a long time in its rays, become so defect- 
ive in their visual organs that they cannot tell black 
from white or right from wrong ! ” 

With these rambling reflections North pursued his 
his way to the Times building, a large and preten- 
tious granite structure on one of the principal business 

134 


A LiTl^jLE Comedo oE errors. 135 

streets, and but a few blocks from the Clement 
House. 

As North approached he saw a group of gentlemen 
standing on the steps of the building, engaged in 
heated and informal debate on some political ques- 
tion. It was evident from their vehement and threat- 
ening gestures, their reckless and extravagant expres- 
sions and the unceremonious freedom with which 
contradiction and epithet were passed to and fro, that 
there were some decided differences of opinion in 
course of ventilation; and, as North passed calmly 
through the excited crowd with a gracious acknowl- 
edgment of their salutations, he said to himself : 

“ The excitement is evidently running high. lam 
fortunate to be out of the active canvass. Verily, 
there is no one so calm, so peaceful, so undisturbed 
as the blameless politician who places himself and is 
contented to remain in that haven of security, the 
hands of his friends ! ” 

As he stepped into the elevator. North casually in- 
quired of the boy: “Shall I find Col. Clipper in his 
office? ” 

“Yes, sir,’^ the boy answered; and in another mo- 
ment, after a rapid plunge upward, the elevator was 
stopped at the third floor of the building, and the 
boy, throwing open the door, looked at North with 
so plain a suggestion in his expectant face that the 
latter immediately acted upon the unspoken hint. 


136 A hi'tTtn Comedy of Errors. 

Finding himself in a wide handsomely tiled corridor 
with sphinx-like office doors on either side which gave 
no clue to what lay beyond their ground-glass panels, 
North was somewhat in doubt which way to turn ; 
but suddenly the door directly facing the elevator 
was opened and a very tall, portly, handsome man 
appeared on the threshold, with a rather less impres- 
sive-looking individual, wffiom he was with much 
gracious hand-shaking and fraternal patting on the 
shoulder dismissing from his presence. 

At sight of North these parting courtesies were ab- 
ruptly suspended. 

“Is that you. North ?” came in tones of sonorous 
greeting from the tall, portly gentleman, while the 
other seized North’s hand and wrung it violently. 
“I’ve been wondering where you were. Glad to see 
you. Come in.” 

“Well, good-day, Clipper; I’ll see you again to- 
morrow,” said the departing caller; and while he 
made a rush for the elevator. Colonel Clipper, hav- 
ing transferred his hand-shaking to North, drew him 
into his private office and closed the door. 

“Been out prospecting to-day?” the colonel in- 
quired, seating himself on the edge of his desk, hav- 
ing first, by a wave of his hand, proffered North one 
of the handsome leather-cushioned chairs. 

“No, I’ve been very much taken up with some pro- 
fessional matters, and have scarcely had time to give 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


137 


athouglit to the election,’^ returned North calmly, 
feeling this stately and impressive editor to be rather 
the most formidable person he had yet encountered. 
‘ ‘ Everything seems to be going forward satisfactorily, 
I should judge from what Warner tells me,” he added, 
using Warner’s name as a sort of passport to the 
colonel’s confidence. “My credentials,” he mentally 
observed. 

“Oh, yes!” and Clipper’s manner grew enthusias- 
tic. “There’s no doubt at all that we’ll sweep the 
city one week from Tuesday. There’s the north and 
east divisions solid for us ; there may be a few scat- 
tering votes for the Prohibition candidates, as there 
usually are in those wards, but the Prohibition racket 
hasn’t been worked to any extent in this canvass, 
you know, since one of their men got so awfully 
tight, and I think we may safely count on a walk- 
over in those districts, for the Independent ticket takes 
them all by storm. The west wing is a little doubt- 
ful yet, and the south wards are generally conceded 
to the opposition ; but the doubtful wards can all be 
fixed up for us, I am confident, and we’ll score the 

handsomest victory ever won in X . What d’ye 

think of that, old fellow? ” 

“Very good. Colonel,” said North, with a slight 
nod or two by way of emphasizing his satisfaction. 

“ Good? Good?” echoed the colonel, swinging his 
long arms through the air enthusiastically. “Why, 


138 


^ LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


man alive, it’s immense! That’s what it is! — im- 
mense! You see” — and he dropped into a chair be- 
side North, as he continued with great fervor in tone 
and gesture, “we’ve just happened to strike the key- 
note of popular sentiment. If there is any one v/ord 
in the vocabulary that the people are sick to death 
of seeing and hearing and having thrown at them, 
it’s that hackneyed, threadbare, meaningless dissylla- 
ble, ‘Reform.’ Now, while we mean reform all right 
enough, we haven’t paraded it before the public dur- 
ing this campaign ; but it has been the tail-piece of 
every other political kite that has been set flying for 
years past. There’s old Wymer’s party, for instance, 
going to revolutionize the world by its reforms in the 
labor and capital muddle. Nobody knows by what 
peculiar handling of a problem that is and always 
must remain simply a question of mutual forbearance 
between the two classes, they propose to adjust mat- 
ters so as to benefit the human race in general, and 

the workingmen of X in particular. Did n’t go 

to their meeting last night, did you ? Well, I went, 
and I got enough of it. Fairly sickened me to hear 
Rochester spouting about the accumulation of 
wealth by the few as a direct robbery of the masses, 
and so on, and advocating a system of division that 
would give the worthless loafer, who was too lazy to 
earn a crust of bread, the same amount of this world’s 
goods that was allotted to the industrious hard- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


139 


working man. That wasn’t the way he put it, of 
course, but it’s just what the confounded rubbish 
amounts to. And, what with holding up working 
men’s unions, and organized strikes, and all that 
sort of business as a legitimate means of resisting the 
tyranny of capital the world over, and lauding the 
Socialists of Germany and the Nihilists of Russia, 
and the whole crew of rampaging law-defying an- 
archists the world over, he succeeded in stirring up a 
spirit of dissatisfaction and lawlessness that needed 
only the provocation to develop into riot and blood- 
shed. Now, I am by no means alarmed for the re- 
sults in this present contest, for I foresee that Roches- 
ter, Bingham eta7., are going to be pretty thoroughly 
extinguished; but can it be that such doctrines as 
they are promulgating are gaining ground among 
the lower classes? If so, there will be bitter 
fruit in the future ! We must look to our free-school 
system and the liberal education of the masses to de- 
liver us from the threatened danger. Our children 
must be taught from their youth up that in this re- 
publican country the higher order of intelligence and 
morals must rule, and ignorance and vice keep their 
proper subordinate places. I heard a rumor this 
morning that Tom Chelsea was going to ‘flop;’ 
know an 3 Thing about it, North? Don’t, eh? Then 
perhaps it isn’t true. I sent Warner around to sit 


140 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


down on him if it was. The doctor has been around 
all morning — ” 

“The doctor?’’ 

“Yes, Warner,” explained the colonel with an in- 
quiring stare. 

“Oh, to be sure; Warner, of course!” and North 
made a hasty effort to redeem himself by this ani- 
mated assent. 

“Out on his professional rounds as healer of politic- 
al dissensions and so on — feeling the pulse of the 
public, you know.” 

“And what does he report ? ” 

“Well, he makes a cautious diagnosis, but I’ve 
given you the substance of it already. He reports 
your popularity on the increase, but he does n’t claim 
much for Halleck. Between you and me, North, I 
suspect that Warner would about as lief see Halleck 
get left ! Has he said anything of the sort to you? ” 
and the colonel looked sharply at North. 

The latter had a confused recollection of Warner’s 
remarks on this subject in their conversation of the 
previous evening. His cautiousness, however, pre- 
vented him from repeating them; he merely answered 
indifferently : 

“No, he hasn’t spoken of it, except to repeat in a 
general way what he has already said to you about 
his objection to Halleck’s nomination. I didn’t 
gather at all that he felt any personal disaffection 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


141 


toward Halleck; on the contrary, I inferred that he 
intended to work for the straight ticket, and felt 
very cordially toward all the candidates.” 

“Oh, he’ll work, all right enough! I’ve no fear 
about that. Warner’s a square man, and all that, 
you know,” the colonel hastened to rejoin, with the 
air of retreating in good order. “By the way, 
North, do you ever hear anything about Gus Thomp- 
son nowadays ? ” 

“Gus Thompson? Why, no, not a syllable,” said 
North with an air of lively interest. “What has be- 
come of him? ” 

“Must be prospecting the Salt River region, to see 
how his party friends are going to fare by-and-by,” 
suggested Clipper dryly. “It’s odd how that fellow 
has dropped out of this campaign. Why, along the 
first, when we held our primaries, I really thought 
his chances were as good as Brown’s; but all at 
once he disappeared, and since then no one has 
seemed to care enough about him to ask what has 
become of him. His party have n’t treated him right, 
after all the work he’s done for them. If they had 
done the square thing by him he would have been in 
the common council by this time. Not that anyone 
wants him there, particularly, only that would have 
been the shortest way to discharge certain political 
debts. Now see here. North,” and Colonel Clipper 
turned to his desk and commenced a hasty search 


142 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


among the loosely scattering manuscripts there, 

here’s an article that I wish you’d glance over. It’s 
a review of Detwiller’s official career, and it cuts him 
up pretty badly. What I want is for you to tell me if 
there is anything in the way it’s expressed that 
would make me liable to an action — your opinion as 
a lawyer, you know.” 

North nodded comprehendingly as he took the 
manuscript from Clipper, while the latter, tipped 
back inachair at a perilous angle, with his shoulders 
squared pugnaciously and his thumbs thrust into the 
armholes of his vest, looked on in grave but eager 
silence. 

The article was written in Clipper’s happiest vein, 
sharp as lightning, bristling with classical allusions, 
but perfectly unscrupulous in its attack upon the char- 
acter, reputation and public career of the unhappy 
Detwiller. North noted with a considerable degree 
of professional appreciation how skillfully the writer 
kept within the letter of the law while he ruthlessly 
trangressed the spirit. 

Returning the manuscript to the colonel after a 
careful examination, coupled with a mental review 
of the law of libel, North said, with a laugh : 

“That will do, Clipper. You are safe so far as a 
legal action is concerned, but if you are liable to meet 
Detwiller you would better provide yourself with 
some efficient weapon of defense. This article is 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


143 


enough to incite even an ordinarily peaceful man to 
war and bloodshed.’' 

“Oh, I can handle Detwiller, or a dozen like him ! ” 
returned the handsome colonel valiantly. “Knew 
my toad, you see ! But a suit at law is a different 
thing. I’m glad to have your opinion of this, because 
I don’t want to get any new libel suits on my hands 
until I get a few of the old lot worked off, and Det- 
willer ’s a vindictive fellow. He would bring an ac- 
tion in very short time if he found it could be sus- 
tained. I’ll bring this out in Monday’s issue and 
we’ll see if it doesn’t make a stir in that camp. 
There’ll be more ‘ artistic profanity ’ in Detwiller’s 
vicinity than has been heard there for many a day ! ” 

A somewhat urgent call for Colonel Clipper at this 
point interrupted their conversation, and North em- 
braced the opportunity to bow himself out of the 
editorial presence. 


CHAPTER XI. 


Pal.: — Good hearts, devise something. 

— Merry Wires of Windsor, 


The following day was Sunday, and although 
North’s mind was so absorbed with the important 
investigation that he had in hand that he felt impa- 
tient of everything that delayed its prosecution, he 
was forced to submit to the twenty-four hours’ inac- 
tivity and suspense. He passed the greater part of 
the time in his own apartments, and was fortunate- 
ly left to the undisturbed solitude that he so greatly 
desired. 

At as earl}^ an hour as practicable the next morn- 
ing he started out with the intention of calling upon 
Mrs. Maynard, and taking up the discussion of the 
Dunkirk will case at the interesting point where they 
'had dropped it at their last interview. 

“I wonder,” he soliloquized as he walked slowly 
down the street in the bright morning sunlight, “I 
wonder if Noll is in the habit of devoting so much of 
his time during office hours to calling on Mrs. May- 
nard? To be sure, the absorbing nature of my busi- 
ness will sufficiently excuse the course in her eyes: but 

X44 


A LITTLE COMELY OF ERRORS. 


145 


what Noll’s partner and clients will think of my per- 
sistent neglect of all professional duties and my con- 
tinued absence from the office is an interesting and 
pertinent question which I leave for them to answer. 
They will probably suspect that, for a man who is so 
entirely in the hands of his friends, Noll is devoting 
a great deal of time to a personal supervision of the 
campaign; looking after his fences, in fact, very much 
a,fter the manner of other candidates! Well, I don’t 
see that I can help it; and really — ” 

“Mr. North! I say, sir, I want to speak to you! 
Will you stop, sir ? ” 

The voice was that of an elderly gentleman, and it 
was pitched in a loud key and charged with a degree 
of stern emphasis which indicated that the speaker 
had allowed his angry passions to rise to a disagree- 
able extent. 

North suddenly stopped and whirled around with 
a disconcerted air. Coming after him at a high pres- 
sure rate of speed was a grey-haired, grey- whiskered, 
ruddy-faced old gentleman dressed in a grey tweed 
business suit. One chubby red hand grasped a stout 
hickory cane, while the other as he talked was em- 
ployed in violent and threatening gestures which 
were anything but reassuring in their effect. 

Glancing calmly at this excited old gentleman. 
North lifted his hat, saying courteously: 

“Good morning, sir.” 


146 


A COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


“Oh, good morning, sir! ’’ retorted the old gentle- 
man irascibly, not intending the words as an an- 
swering salutation but merely echoing them in wratli- 
ful mockery. “ You think you’re a mighty fine young 
gentleman, no doubt, Mr. North! You set up to be 
a gentleman, Isay — don’t you?” 

“Really, sir,” said North in amazement, looking 
at his interlocutor as if he considered him an escaped 
lunatic, “your language is quite uncalled for. If you 
have any business with me, I request that you state it 
civilly; otherwise I must decline to listen to you.” 

“Oh, you take a lofty air upon yourself, Mr. North 
— a lofty air, don’t you?” returned the old gentle- 
man still angrily, though his tones and manner soft- 
ened instantly under North’s cool, steady look. 
“You’ve worn my patience and civility out long ago, 
and now I want to know what you’re going to do, 
eh ? Because if you haven’t got any plans, why then 
I have, and it is time something was done about this 
matter.” 

“To what matter do you refer? ” inquired North, 
who might have suspected his indignant assailant’s 
identity by this time, if he had not been too greatlv 
annoyed to think clearly about that question. 

“Eh? What am I talking about ? ” demanded the old 
gentleman glaring wrathfully from beneath a pair of 
shaggy eyebrows as he rendered this free transla- 
tion of North’s words. “Wall, if that ain’t the top- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OP ERRORS. l4? 

pin’ off of impertinence ! You’ve put me off timeand 
time agin with your triflin’ excuses and promises, 
but I’ll swear that you never tried this dodge before! 
Memory ’s failin’, eh? Then perhaps I can jog it a 
little. Here, sir!” and, tugging furiously at the 
inner pocket of his coat, he drew forth a large, dog- 
eared account-book and extracted from it a soiled 
folded paper which he thrust defiantly at North, 
“here’s that note of Amity’s with your indorsement 
written across it; and now Amity’s cleared out and 
here’s the note overdue by six weeks ! ” 

North received the paper daintily with the tips of 
his gloved fingers, unfolded and glanced over it. 
There was Ollin’s indorsement in clear, bold charac- 
ters, that defied all doubt or denial. 

“Oh, I see, this is old Archer,” thought North rue- 
fully. “Yes, that is the name; Jonathan Archer. 
Well, I see very plainly that I shall be obliged to pay 
this note in order to save myself serious embarrass- 
ment. Let me see, what’s the amount? By Jove, 
two hundred dollars— why, I have n’t so much as that 
with me, and if I had — ” 

“Wall, and what do you say now, sir?” demanded 
Mr. Archer with a grin of triumph. “S’pose you re- 
member the business now, don’t you? Reckon you 
can’t very well go back on your own hand-write!” 

“Oh, heavens and earth!” thought North. “If 
this was the way he talked to Wee the other day, I 


148 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

don’t wonder that my honored colleague was out of 
temper about it. What on earth am I to do ? ” 

He looked up and down the street, stroking his 
mustache in a meditative way for a moment; then 
turning to Mr. Archer, who was contemplating him 
with evident impatience, yet with an air of con- 
sciously possessing all the advantage. North began 
suavely : 

“I promise you, Mr. Archer, that this little matter 
shall be attended to as quickly as possible — ” 

“Now, sir, now.' ’’interrupted Mr. Archer excitedl}^ 
“It’s got to be settled inside of ten minutes or I’ll 
sue you for the hull amount! You’ve put me off a 
dozen times if you’ve done it once, with that same 
smooth promise, and I’ve waited and waited as civil 
as a gentleman all this time, while my own creditors 
are pushing me to the wall. And what with my 
waiting and your getting so airy that you can’t see 
me on the street, but pass me by a dozen times ad ay 
without speaking” — North glanced sharply at Mr. 
Archer, and suddenly realized that he had frequently 
seen him during the past few days — “I begin to feel 
mighty shaky, and the sooner I see my money, the 
better satisfied I’ll be. Now, sir, this note’s got to 
be paid, and paid inside of ten minutes. That’s my 
determination, and there’ll be no back-down on it, 
either.” 

It required all the tact that North possessed, as 


A UMtE comedy 01*' ERRORS . 


149 


well as a recollection of Mr. Archer’s undoubted 
provocation, to enable him to control himself under 
the exasperation caused by this scene ; but he con- 
trived to say calmly enough, though with consider- 
able sharpness mingled with the remonstrance : 

“Really, sir, you must be more reasonable about 
this matter. It is simply impossible for me to settle 
this claim on ten minutes’ notice. I shall be obliged 
to telegraph for the money, and that will necessitate 
a delay of possibly several hours. You really must 
wait, sir.” 

“And haven’t I told you plain enough that I won’t 
wait?” retorted Mr. Archer belligerently waving 
his hand. “I’m done with triflin’. If you haven’t 
got the money right by you, sir, you don’t need to 
telegraph to Californy or the dear knows where, to 
get it. You can borrow it off some of your friends 
right here in town as easy as turnin’ over your hand, 
and you’d better do it mighty sudden ! ” 

“ ‘Some of my friends ! ’ ” thought North in despair 
as he cast another speculative glance up and down 
the street. “Heavens, what a situation — dunned on 
the public highway in this belligerent manner ! How 
could have Noll been so negligent? But then, it’s 
just like him — ‘an unpardonably careless fellow in 
money matters,’ as Wee said. ‘Some of my friends’ 
— to whom can I apply? Clipper? No, he’s an edi- 
tor; it would be setting aside all the traditions of the 


150 


A Little comedy of errors. 


craft to assume that he has any idle cash. Warner ? 
I have no means of estimating his financial basis; he 
might be a millionaire or a church mouse, for any- 
thing that his appearance indicates. Wee? It is the 
wildest nonsense to think of him! Colonel Dayton 
is forever growling about the hard times ; I heard 
him saying only this morning that it was as much as 
he could do to keep his head above water. To be 
sure, it would be simply a loan, to be repaid as soon 
as I can receive a telegraphic check from my banker 
in New York ; but I shall feel a little delicate about 
asking even that. Wymer? He is probably putting 
too much into the campaign fund to have any money 
to spend for other purposes; and besides, be would n’t 
do me this friendly service. Well, my list of ac- 
quaintances is canvassed, and to no purpose. In the 
name of all the unmerciful fates at once, what am I 
to do ? ” 

His despairing question was answered most unex- 
pectedly. It had scarcely been formed in his mind 
when W arner appeared upon the scene sharp, business- 
like and observant as usual. He greeted North in a 
cordial way ; then as he perceived Mr. Archer’s ag- 
gressive air and North’s perplexity and annoyance, 
and recalled Mr. Wescott’s reference to his own en- 
counter with the old gentleman, Warner compre- 
hended the situation at once. 

‘‘Isay, North,” he exclaimed in his impetuous way 


A LIT^TLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


151 


as he drew North aside confidentially, “is old Archer 
pushing for that money ? ” 

North assented with an expressive shrug of his 
shoulders. 

“He’ll not give me time to turn around,” he con- 
tinued in an undertone. “The note is overdue, I ad- 
mit ; but he insists upon immediate payment, and I 
haven’t the money in hand and can ’t get it without 
considerable delay.” 

“He won’t wait ? ” interrogated Warner reflect- 
ively. 

“Not ten minutes. He threatens to bring suit 
against me if I do not satisfy his claim at once.” 

“I say, now, that’s rough ! You’ll have to lose it, 
won’t you? Of course you’d have heard from Amity 
before this, if he were ever going to answer your let- 
ter. He has acted confoundedly mean after the 
handsome way you treated him when everyone else 
was kicking him out of the way. What’s the 
amount. North ? ” 

“Two hundred dollars.” 

“That all?” 

“It’s all, but it happens to be enough to embarrass 
me for the reason already specified.” 

Warner looked rather blankly at North for an in- * 
stant; then as if dismissing all idle speculation from 
his mind he said : 

“Now, see here; my bank is just around the cor- 


152 


A LITTLE COMEDT OE ERRORS. 


tier, and all I’ve got to do to make this thing straight 
with old Archer is to scratch my name to a check. 
What d’ye say, North — shall I do it ? ” 

It is needless to say that North accepted this deli- 
cately offered assistance with a hearty : 

“Thank you, Warner! I’ll make it all right with 
you before night.” 

“Hold on a minute — be back soon,” were Warner’s 
parting words as, with both arms swinging ener- 
getically and his nose high in the air, he started 
around the corner at an alarming pace. 

“Warner is my good angel; judge, oh ye gods, 
how dearly I do love him ! ” thought North in grate- 
ful paraphrase; then turning to his relentless creditor 
he added aloud: 

“This matter will be adjusted in a very few mo- 
ments, Mr. Archer.” 

“Wall, wall, now — ahem! — I ain’t takin’on about 
it, Mr. North, since I see you ’re willing to ack fair 
an’ square,” said Mr. Archer in mollified tones and 
with an obvious wish to make peace. “I hope you 
won’t take no offense at what I’ve said, sir. Business 
is business, you know, and has got to be ’tended to.” 

“And civility is civility,” retorted North in a men- 
tal aside, “but you have behaved toward me like a 
backwoodsman and a boor ! ” 

Nevertheless he smiled with superficial amiability 
and glanced nervously up the street and down the 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


153 


street and wished devoutly that Warner would real- 
ly hurry. 

‘‘It’s a fine, ba’my day, on the whole,” continued 
old Mr. Archer, as he gazed upon the clear skies and 
the radiant sunlight with the condescendingly ap- 
proving air of a competent critic giving his opinion 
of a fine effort that nature had intended expressly 
for his benefit. 

“‘Business is business,”’ thought North magnifi- 
cently, “and it forms the only conceivable connect- 
ing link between yourself and me. You will please 
confine your observations to that one subject ; it is 
the only common ground upon which we can possibly 
meet!” 

Nevertheless he bent his stately head to the inex- 
orable yoke of “policy,” and uttered the most suave 
acquiescence. 

“Polly tics seems to be pretty much the order of 
the day, just now,” pursued Mr. Archer, probably 
with the benevolent intention of drawing out Mr. 
North’s conversational powers, which at that mo- 
ment appeared to be somewhat limited ; as with the 
point of his stout ivory-headed cane he industriously 
knocked the loose stones and pebbles off the pavement 
with as earnest application to the task as if it had 
been his regular occupation in life. “I hear that 
your prospects is mighty good, Mr. North.” 

“Ah 1 Here’s my opportunity to distinguish myself, 


154 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


thought North with a sudden inspiration of reckless 
nonsense. “I’ll make this simple old voter think 
that I’m a model of disinterested patriotism! ” 

Therefore, assuming an air and attitude of stilted 
dignit}^ North answered with a slight wave of his 
hand as if he thus rejected all political ambitions and 
honors : 

“Oh, I have scarcely considered my prospects, Mr. 
Archer. The truth is, I do not desire office unless I 
should become convinced that it was my duty thus 
to serve the public interests ; and as to the present 
canvass, I may say that I have been the least active 
of all the candidates now in the field. If I am elected, 
I shall accept my election as the unmistakable call of 
duty, speaking through ‘the still small voice of the 
ballot ; ’ but in the meantime I shall give myself no 
concern, and to the probable issue very little thought. 
I am perfectly content to be the humble instrument 
to execute the will of the people. Duty, sir, duty is 
the grand pivotal point on which all my desires and 
ambitions turn ! ” 

Mr. Archer stared and nodded with an air of being 
very much impressed ; and before North had time to 
recover from the severe mental exhaustion conse- 
quent upon this effort, a hand was placed lightly on 
his shoulder. 

Turning around quickly he saw Warner convulsed 
with laughter. 


A LITTIvE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


155 


“I say, North, don’t put it quite so steep! Too 
much allowance for stage perspective for an audience of 
one!” were his low-spoken words as, thrusting a 
roll of crisp banknotes into North’s hand, he hurried 
off before another syllable could be spoken. 

North looked after him with an amused air ; then 
turning to Mr. Archer he said courteously : 

‘‘If you will accompany me to my office now, Mr. 
Archer, we will conclude this business at once.” 

Mr. Wescott, elaborately disposed in an easy chair 
after his own peculiar notions of making himself 
comfortable, was reading a newspaper in the quiet 
inner office when North and Mr. Archer entered.. 

“ Good morning. Wee. Take a chair, Mr. Archer, 
over here by my desk,” said North airily, tossing his 
gloves down on the desk and nodding graciously to 
the junior partner. “I will count these bills, Mr. 
Archer, and you may run over them after me, if you 
will, just to see that there is no mistake.” 

And as he sat down at the desk, apparently ab- 
sorbed in the business in hand, North said to him- 
self with a keen sense of enjoyment, as he accidentally 
encountered a pair of eyes raised with an expression 
of contemptuous surprise from the paper that Mr. 
Wescott was not reading: 

“Poor Wee! I’m afraid this may give him concus- 
sion of the brain ! I wonder if he will not fall on my 
neck and weep when old Archer is gone ? He will at 


156 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


least think better of that rash determination to dis- 
solve partnership ! ” 

“Wall, Mr. North,” said Jonathan Archer, as, hav- 
ing finally disposed of his business, he stood for a few 
moments beside North’s desk hugging his cane as if 
it were some favorite delusion, “I’m free to say that 
I was mighty well pleased with the sentyments that 
you expressed in my hearing a spell ago. I can’t say 
as I’ve ever heard jest the same before, but I reckon 
you hit pretty nigh right every time. Now, sir, I’m 
free to say that I had about made up my mind to 
support Mr. Wymer this cornin’ election; but since 
I’ve heard j^our sentyments I’ve changed my mind 
consider’ble. So, Mr. North, I’m goin’ to vote for 
you, sir, and whatever inflooence I can pull shall all 
go in the same direction. Good-day, sir! Good-day, 
Mr. Wescott, Good-day!” 

North, rising from the desk, laughingly bowed the 
the old gentleman out of the ofiSce ; saying to himself 
with a touch of good-humored satire : 

“ And thus are swayed the suffrages of an intelligent 
and independent constituency! ” 


CHAPTER XII. 


Par.: — Good, very good; it is so, then. 

Good, very good ; let it be concealed a while. 

— All’s Well That Ends Well. 


“And now my dear fellow, if you can think of any 
other indebtedness great or small — but especially 
small — that I may have incurred, which is exercising 
a peculiarly damaging effect upon my own credit and 
also, through my business connection with you, upon 
yourself, I ask you in all sincerity, I in treat you in 
all seriousness, I adjure you in the sacred name of 
friendship, to bring the same to my remembrance at 
once, or else forever after hold your peace ! ” 

As he spoke thus with a provoking little twinkle in 
his eyes. North threw himself into an casy-chair 
close beside Wee and leaned over confidentially to- 
ward that gentlemen. 

Mr. Wescott, who still had his newspaper spread 
out before him, rustled it slightly as he gave his 
shoulders a petulant shrug, and without glancing up 
he growled: 

“What should I know about your private affairs? 
I’ve never meddled with them, so far as I am aware, 

11 157 


158 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Have I, sir?” he added, as he looked defiantly at 
North now for an instant. 

“No, no! a thousand times no! ” cried North with 
ready volubility; when Wee dryly cut him short 
with : 

“Very well, then; that settles it.” 

“Ah, but my dear Wee, that does not settle it! ex- 
claimed North fervently. “Why do you fling cold 
water in this heartless way over my first real at- 
tempt at reformation ? A sense of what I owe you 
in the way of reparation urges me on to this decisive 
step. I wish first of all, of course, to redeem my own 
credit — now, right along, you know, while I have 
some to redeem; your judicious advice on that point 
touched a chord that has been vibrating ever since. 
But next to this I wish to restore to you all that 
you may have lost in public confidence by having 
been so long associated with me as my partner. This 
is simple justice to you, and a duty that I owe to 
myself. Come, now! Can’t you help me a little. 
Wee, in such a commendable undertaking? Stop 
reading that Daily Times upside down and give me 
the benefit of your wise counsel.” 

But Mr. Wescott was deaf to all appeals. Exas- 
perated by an attack from which he had no ready re- 
sponse to defend himself, he took refuge in a grim si- 
lence and kept his whole attention, outwardly at 
jeast, upon bis newspaper, 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


159 


North lifted his eyebrows with an air of surprise, 
as if he were utterl}^ unable to understand such abso- 
lute stoicism. Leaning back in his chair he '‘gor- 
gonized ” the unhappy Wee for several moments with 
a “stony British stare,” apparently lost in contem- 
plation of that gentleman’s hardened and depraved 
nature. 

Mr. Wescott, while betraying by his expression of 
heroic suffering that he was conscious of this provok- 
ing scrutiny, succeeded for a short time in keeping 
his eyes fixed upon the newspaper, which he rustled 
nervously now and then in his painful effort to ap- 
pear unconscious ; but there is a limit to human en- 
durance, and he finally reached that point. 

Rising, without any visible change in his grave 
countenance, Mr. Wescott drew out his watch and 
calmly noted the time; then, with the air of aman who 
goes to meet a very pressing engagement, he took up 
his hat and withdrew from the office as if utterly un- 
conscious of North’s presence there. 

“Well, that’s poetic justice !” soliloquized North, 
calmly surveying the field that he had won. “Wee 
drove me from the office when I was here before, and 
now I have compelled him to beat a masterly re- 
treat. Mr. Wescott and I ma^^ therefore consider 
ourselves quits. But I cannot remain here to enjoy 
my triumph. Before the crowd of clients who are 
probably surging toward the office door can come 


160 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


Upon me in the name of the firm and overwhelm me 
with their affairs, I will follow the example of the 
junior partner and ‘cut’ the office. I may now be 
able to carry out my original intention of calling 
on Mrs. Maynard, unless some untoward^ fate again 
interferes.” 

With this faint hope he left the office and started 
once more toward Delaplaine street, arrivin g at No. 
33 without incident or delay. 

Mrs. Maynard came down to the drawing-room to 
receive him, looking so ill that he could not repress 
the exclamation of solicitude that rose to his lips. 
Her extreme pallor, heightened no doubt by the plain 
black dress that she wore, really startled him ; and 
the heavy shadow of weariness, the pathetic lines of 
care that within a few short hours had appeared 
upon that proud, beautiful face, told of anxious 
thoughts and genuine heart sorrow. 

Her manner, however, was light, as if her pride 
would not permit her to acknowledge the mental 
suffering that had so mercilessly left its traces upon 
her; and she smiled incredulously at North’s anxious 
inquiries. 

“The merest trifle,” she protested with a slight 
wave of one delicate hand as if she thus cast the 
trifle from her. “I read too late last evening, and a 
headache always rewards such excessive intellectual 
application.” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 161 

And she sank languidly into an easy ehair, after in- 
viting North to be seated. 

“I fear that you are not equal to a diseussion of 
the serious questions that are before the house this 
morning,” began North, his flippancy modified by the 
air of anxiety with which he was regarding her. 

This introduction of a painful subject which she 
nevertheless knew perfectly well was unavoidable, 
visibly distressed her; but she conquered her feelings 
bravely and answered without a tremor in her voice: 

“Serious problems sometimes appear less formi- 
dable after a candid and practical discussion, Mr. 
North. While I have no ground for expecting it to 
be so in this case, I am at least confident that noth- 
ing can be worse than a continued silent brooding on 
the subject.” 

Notwithstanding the despondent resignation in the 
words, there was a suggestion of hope — a faint in- 
tangible hope that was very like despair — in her 
voice and in the swift glance that she raised to his 
face. 

She must have found very little encouragement 
there for she instantly relapsed into a frozen calm 
which in contrast with her usual sparkling vivacity 
seemed like a strange, apathetic indifference; and 
clasping her hands listlessly in her lap she awaited 
his response. 

With a business-like air North drew from his pocket 


162 


A LITTLE Comedy of errors. 


a note-book and pencil, which he placed on the small 
onyx table beside which he had seated himself. Then 
he turned to Mrs. Maynard, whose chair was but a 
short distance from his own and so placed that she 
was not directly facing him, though a very slight 
turn of the languid, graceful head would bring him in 
full range of her glance. Just now it was resting 
upon some point above and beyond North’s head, 
with an intentness that suggested an undercurrent 
of thought even more absorbing than the surface cur- 
rent that his words now brought before her. 

“I intend first of all, Mrs. Maynard,” he began with 
something in his tone that was as decisive and ag- 
gressive as the clash of cold steel, notwithstanding 
his studied suavity, “thoroughly to sift our case in 
its present state, examine it at every point, and thus 
arrive at some satisfactory conclusion as to how we 
should stand in the event of any very searching in- 
vestigation on the part of our opponents. To this 
end I shall be obliged to question you somewhat ex- 
haustively, with your kind permission ; and you will 
favor me very greatly if you will repl}^ to all my 
questions as fullj^ and directly as possible.” 

Mrs. Maynard having given a languid assent to 
these words, North took up his note-book daintily 
with the tips of his fingers, adding in an explanatory 
way: 

“I may possibly —indeed, I shall certainly — ask 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


163 


you questions on some points on which you may 
consider that I have already been fully informed; but 
in such cases I must ask you to remember that my 
questions, although seemingly superfluous, have a 
distinct purpose, and I shall of course expect you to 
answer me precisely as you would if I were in total 
ignorance of all the facts. In short, we will assume 
for present purposes that I am in total ignorance of 
all the facts. It is the way we lawyers examine our 
own witnesses in court, and it will be a valuable 
preparation for you, by the way,” he added signifi- 
cantly, “if you should be called upon to testify in 
this case. I have some curiosity to see how you 
would stand a rigid cross-examination, Mrs. May- 
nard. I really think I shall have to test you a lit- 
tle!” 

“Very well, Mr. North; I am ready for the experi- 
ment, if you have any doubt of my competency as a 
witness,” said Mrs. Maynard, evidently forcing her- 
self to the flippant speech. 

“Oh, it is not that I have any doubt, Mrs. May- 
nard, but I wish to have my impressions on the point 
confirmed,” interposed North hastily; intending in a 
rather vague way to be highly complimentary, but 
making a failure of the laudable attempt by reason 
of its ambiguity. “We will assume, then, that I 
have a general idea of the facts to which you are 
prepared to testify; I now elicit them from you by 


164 


A LTTTLS comedy OF ERRORS. 


my questions, which, while they may entirely ignore 
many points that you consider essential, will bring 
out what I know to be material and relevant.” 

“ There !” he added to himself as he mentally re- 
viewed these last words, “I believe I have now laid 
the foundation for any questions whatever that I 
may be compelled to ask. However, Til just make it 
a little broader while I am about it.” 

Then while Mrs. Ma\mard seemed to be silently 
considering his last words, he resumed aloud : 

“You will observe, Mrs. Maynard, that I am pre- 
pared to take notes of all that you tell me. The fact 
is,” and his countenance assumed a perplexed, har- 
assed expression for the moment, “I have so much 
care and anxiety and business responsibility on my 
mind that I find it difficult, yes, almost impossible, to 
keep the various threads from becoming seriously 
entangled. I have no written record of even the 
most important facts in this case, and inconsequence 
of being so pressed by other cares I find myself be- 
coming slightly confused in regard to this affair, un- 
able clearly to draw the line between what I actuall^^ 
know of the facts and what I have myself merely 
conjectured. Now, if you will please state the simple 
facts as I refer you to them by my questions, I will 
carefully note them down, and I shall then have a 
much clearer idea of our true position.” 

His persistent holding to the point seemed to rouse 


A LITTLte COMEDY OF ERRORS. IBS 

Mrs. Majmard from her state of passive acquies- 
cence ; her answer came now in clear decisive tones in 
which was suggested a slight impatience of these te- 
dious preliminaries. 

“I am aware, Mr. North, that with so many other 
and no doubt greater interests to absorb your atten- 
tion, you cannot be expected to remember all the de- 
tails of this case as well as I do, particularly if you 
have not reduced them to memoranda; and even I 
forget now whether I have informed you on certain 
points. Ask me any questions that you consider 
necessary, and I will answer to the best of mj abil- 
ity.” 

“Thank j^ou, Mrs. Maynard,” said North with an 
air of extreme satisfaction; and the harassed ex- 
pression disappeared from his face as he mentally 
congratulated himself that he had laid his founda- 
tion securely and very broad, indeed. “Thus much 
by way of preamble ; and now to business ! ” 

He dexterously slipped Mrs. Jane Dunkirk’s letter 
from its envelope as he spoke, and proceeded to un- 
fold it. 

“Oh, to be sure, that letter — I had forgotten it! 
You have read it, I presume, Mr. North ?” inquired 
Mrs. Maynard with a faint degree of interest in her 
manner; then as North, without replying, glanced up 
at her with an air of reproof, lifting his eyebrows in- 
quiringly, she at once checked herself. 


166 


A LlTTLfi COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


*‘I perceive,” she said submissively, “I am not to 
ask any questions at all ; that is your prerogative. 
Very well; I will try to remember this hereafter.” 

“No, no, Mrs. Maynard, you shall share all my 
prerogatives!” cried North in another ingenuous 
outburst of gallantry ; then a faint color crept sus- 
piciously over the fairness of cheek and brow as he 
continued in a more business-like tone: 

“At least, I will answer the question that you 
have already asked. I have read this letter, and I 
intend to make it the starting point for all my ques- 
tions this morning. 1 wish, you see, to analyze it 
very much as it would be analyzed in court if we 
should submit it for any purpose whatever, and to 
ascertain just what construction it will best bear. 
First of all, then, we will consider the date; since, to 
be of any practical use to us, the letter must be 
proven to have been written while that genuine will 
in your favor was in existence. The one, you know, 
corroborates the other. This letter hints at what 
the will fulfills ; and we must construe it according 
to that intent. What we wish to establish by it is 
the intention of Mrs. Dunkirk toward yourself. All 
this, you understand, would be of no advantage to 
us if Annie Dupont should be discovered ; but if she 
is not brought forward within a reasonable time, 
we may assume that it will fairly make our case. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


167 


Now, this date, no doubt, is accurate. Do you recol- 
lect when 3^0 u received the letter ? ” 

“Oh, very distinctly! We had returned from Eu- 
rope the previous week, and I had written her imme- 
diately upon our arrival in X 

“ Yes. Now I will read aloud her reply. The first 
sentence is immaterial. Next: ‘I am sorry to hear 
of your difficulties, but am in no position to advise 
you.’ If you recollect, what was the nature of those 
difficulties, Mrs. Maynard ? Were they not, as I in- 
fer from the context, of a pecuniary — I mean — ” 
“Not entirely, but principally,” interposed Mrs. 
Maynard with a reflective air, “connected with 
money matters.” 

North slowly read on : — 

“‘Mr. Maynard used his own discretion in the 
matter, and his right to do so no one can dispute. 
That you are disappointed, is, of course, natural; 
but why you should feel so despondent in regard to 
your own future I cannot understand.’ To what, if 
I may inquire, do these two sentences refer? ” 

“Why, to Mr. Maynard’s will.” 

“Ah— to Mr. Maynard’s will,” repeated North ab- 
sently, while he was thinking: “What about the ma- 
jor’s will? I must try to ascertain.” 

“I told her about it in my letter,” resumed Mrs. 
Maynard, “and I believe complained rather bitterly 


168 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


of it as injust to me and not at all what I had a right 
to expect.” 

“Had you then discovered for the first time that 
he had made this will ? ” 

“Oh, no! I knew his intention in regard to the 
matter long before this. Mr. Maynard told me 
plainl3’ what he intended to do, and I was present 
when the will was drawn. There was no secret 
made of it, I assure you. The major was only too 
anxious for me to know what had been determined 
upon, that he might triumph in my discomfiture.” 

Her dark eyes flashed as she spoke, and a tiny spot 
of scarlet glowed in her cheeks ; but her tones did not 
vary for an instant from their cool sweetness nor her 
manner from its gracious repose. 

“Danger-signals — the domestic skeleton athand! ’’ 
thought North ruefully; nevertheless he did not 
swerve one degree from his perilous investigations. 

“It may not be considered important, or directh^ 
bearing on our case,” he observed in a meditative 
way as he glanced up at Mrs. Ma^mard over his 
notes, “still, if the inquiry were carried on in court, 
I apprehend that all these collateral questions would 
be raised, and it may be as well for me to be thor- 
oughly informed on this point. Will you please state 
briefly what were the conditions of that will? I will 
note them down as you proceed.” 

“The document itself was very brief and to the 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


169 


point. With the exception of a certain income to be 
paid annually to me so long as I remained a widow 
and continued to reside under this roof,— two dis- 
tinctly tyrannical conditions which must be complied 
with, both and severally, otherwise so far as Mr. 
Maynard’s wealth was concerned, I should be left 
penniless, — with the exception of this conditionally 
granted income, in consideration of which my right 
of dower was set aside, all of Mr. Maynard’s large 
fortune was willed to his relatives. Think of it, Mr. 
North — such a sweeping disregard of my rights!” 
The undercurrent of indignation rippled the calm 
surface now just for an instant as these words were 
warmly uttered. 

“Preposterous!” declared North, as he made a 
few brief dashes in his note-book while in his mind a 
very trivial question kept repeating itself: “Why 
does she sometimes call him ‘Mr. Maynard’ and 
sometimes ‘ the Major? ’ ” 

“And this, you see,” continued Mrs. Maynard, a 
delicate satire in her tones, “was the sympathy that 
Mrs. Dunkirk offered me: ‘Mr. Maynard used his 
own discretion in the matter, and his right to 
do so no one can dispute.’ It was not entirely his 
own discretion, as I very well know.” 

“ Ah ! then there was undue influence exerted to in- 
duce him to make this will? ” inquired North quickly ; 
thinking with the unconscious professional instinct 


170 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


that no legal point, however slight or extraneous, 
ever eluded: “If that were proven, his will can 
easily be set aside, when the time comes. I wonder if 
this has never occurred to her ? ” 

“Remember, I have no proof of this, Mr. North,’’ 
Mrs. Maynard said slowly, as if answering his very 
thoughts. “Nevertheless I am convinced that he 
was influenced to my disadvantage. However, this 
is a digression. My unhappy differences with Mr 
Maynard are not at present under discussion, I be- 
lieve.’’ 

North experienced a peculiar sensation as he list- 
ened to this direct allusion to the tragedy of Mrs. 
Maynard’s domestic life; but he smiled as com- 
posedly as if her last remark had been the merest 
commonplace, and proceeded with his inquiries. 

“Mrs. Dunkirk’s letter, then, so far as I have cited 
it, refers to this will, of which you had written her, 
and to your comments on it ? ” 

“Yes; that is all.” 

“And now,” continued North, “we come to this 
terrible arraignment, on a charge to which many of 
us, I fear, would have to plead guilty: ‘You were 
always over-fond ofmoney.’ Can it be possible, 
Mrs. Maynard, that anything ever occurred in the 
course of your long acquaintance with Mrs. Dunkirk 
that would justify her in suspecting you of being the 
least particle mercenary in your disposition? ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 171 

Mrs. Maynard glancing up in surprise and en- 
countering an extremely quizzical expression in the 
keen gray eyes that were regarding her so intently 
hesitated for an instant, evidently unable to perceive 
the drift of North’s inquiry. Then she said, speaking 
slowly as if still speeulating on his motives: 

“I cannot say, Mr. North, that I ever consciously 
did anything to warrant Mrs. Dunkirk in forming 
such a conclusion. She was rather given to hasty 
judgments, and she elung to her opinions with great 
tenacit\\ She knew, of course, that I looked upon 
wealth as one of the good things of this life, whieh I 
should be glad to possess. Is not that a natural and 
proper wish ? ” 

“ Oh, entirely so ! I m3^self sympathize with it very 
profoundly, as you are doubtless aware. But did you 
ever give Mrs. Dunkirk any reason to suppose that 
you wished, hoped or expected to be madeher heir ? ” 

‘‘Would not sueh a wish, hope or expectation be 
perfectly natural in view of the fact that she had 
actually made a will in my favor ? — ah ! ” she added 
quickly as North’s eyebrows were again raised, “I 
forgot the prerogatives, just for the moment. Well, 
then, yes, Mr. North; she knew that I had somesuch 
expeetation. She herself intimated to me several 
times that she might make me her heir.” 

“How far back does your personal acquaintance 


172 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


with Mrs. Dunkirk extend, Mrs. Maynard? ” inquired 
North abruptly. 

The answer came slowly after an instant’s silence. 

“To the day of poor, dear mamma’s funeral, when 
Mrs. Dunkirk came in answer to mamma’s last re- 
quest, to take me to her home.” 

“Previous to that day you had never met Mrs. 
Dunkirk?” 

“Never.” 

“But she was an intimate friend of your 
mother’s? ” 

“So far as I have ever been able to learn, their ac- 
quaintance, though of many years’ standing, had 
never been intimate at all.” 

There was a perplexed expression on North’s face 
as he pondered this answer in silence for a few mo- 
ments with his eyes bent upon his note-book. Then he 
said slowly, raising his glance to Mrs. Maynard’s 
face: 

“And yet, during her last illness, your mother 
wrote to Mrs. Dunkirk — a comparative stranger, as 
we must infer that she was — requesting her to take 
you into her home and extend to you, so long as you 
should need it, a guardian’s care and protection; a 
request which was made so urgently that Mrs. Dun- 
kirk was loath to disregard it. Has this never seemed 
strange to you, Mrs. Maynard? ” 

It was evident that the strangeness of the fact had 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


173 


now occurred to North for the first time; it was 
equally evident that Mrs. Maynard had long since 
ceased to speeulate upon the matter, as something 
which she was unable to explain. 

“There has always been a little mystery shrouding 
that circumstance, Mr. North,” she said withafaint 
smile. “ Dear mamma herself recognized the fact 
that, in her choice of a guardian for her daughter, she 
had made a demand upon Mrs. Dunkirk’s kindness 
which her slight acquaintance with that lady would 
scareely justify; but in her letter to Mrs. Dunkirk, 
written just before her death, she said that I would 
explain that action satisfactorily. When Mrs. Dun- 
kirk referred the matter to me, I was utterly unable 
to account for the fact that I had been consigned to 
the care of a perfect stranger, whose name, even, I 
had scarcely heard before.” 

“There is only one possible inference to be drawn 
from these circumstances, then,” observed North with 
a thoughtful air, as he looked inquiringly at Mrs. 
Maynard. “Mrs. Kingsbury was prevented in some 
way from com munieating to you the explanation 
that she intended to give before her death.” 

“That is the conclusion at which both Mrs. Dun- 
kirk and I arrived,” answered Mrs. Maynard, “and, 
accepting it, Mrs. Dunkirk carried out mamma’s 
wishes with an evident feeling that tViey imposed 

upon her a sacred obligation. I have always thought 
12 


174 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


that the very mystery attending our first meeting 
gave her a special interest in me, to which was due 
the great kindness with which she discharged her 
duty as my guardian.’’ 

“No doubt of it,” returned North with a smile. 
“A touch of mystery is always a great sharpener of 
one’s interest. But now, right here let me bring up 
another point. You say that Mrs. Dunkirk ‘inti- 
mated’ to you her intention of making you her heir; 
did she, then, not show you that will? ” 

“ Oh, no ! She was not even aware that I knew of 
its existence. She did not speak about it to me with 
any definiteness ; she merely hinted at what she might 
do, very much as she does in this letter. Your mem- 
ory is strangely at fault, Mr. North, if you have for- 
gotten this point. It was Jenner who told me about 
the will.” 

“Ah ! Then you never saw the will ? ” 

“Never.” 

“You know nothing about it of your own knowl- 
edge — nothing except what Jenner told you? ” 

“That is all; but really, Mr. North, it is sufficient. 
I have no reason to believe that Jenner misrepre- 
sented the affair to me.” 

“Oh, probably not; but I’m after facts, now — not 
theories, if you please! ” 

And, smoothing down the edges of this rejoinder 
with his most irresistible smile, North went on with 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


175 


his investigation, following up eagerly a new clew 
which had thus unexpectedly fallen into his hands. 

“Now, that first will, of which, as you say, Jenner 
told you, was substantially the same as this later 
one which has just been exploded in New York,” — 
he tossed Mrs. Dunkirk’s letter down on the table 
with an impetuous air as if his interest in it had sud- 
denly ceased for the time, — “the latter was a faithful 
copy of the former.” 

He put this in the form of a positive assertion, but 
it was in reality a question, the answer to which he 
awaited with the greatest interest. 

“The only difference, I believe, was in the amount 
of Jenner ’s legacy. In that first will Mrs. Dunkirk 
bequeathed five thousand dollars to Jenner, in con- 
sideration of her long and faithful services; whereas, 
you know, in this — other will” — she spoke these 
words shrinkingly and with averted glance — “this 
legacy was doubled, was it not? ” 

“Yes, yes — you are right,” was North's absent- 
minded response, while his eyes, as he kept them res- 
olutely upon his note-book, sparkled in triumph. “I 
merely wish to get every little thread straightened 
out, just for my own benefit. Of course we maintain 
in public that you knew nothing about Mrs. Dun- 
kirk’s will, never dreamed of the possibility of its ex- 
istence — no, no, that’s a little too radical, in view of 
this letter; well, then, that you had no definite know!- 


176 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


edge of its existence until this contest came up in 
court.” 

He paused here and idly sketched squares and 
angles and perfectly meaningless characters in his 
note-book while his thoughts ran on rapidly : 

“At last I have found the missing link, and my 
chain of evidence is fast being welded together. Jen- 
ner — surely, there can be no mistake about it; these 
three are the conspirators — Jenner, Mrs. Maynard 
and Noll! Why, it just occurs to me, Jenner is that 
missing witness whose mysterious disappearance oc- 
casioned so much delay and speculation, as well as 
recrimination, each side accusing the other of having 
spirited her off in order to prevent her testimony from 
being taken. In view of her confidential relations to 
her mistress for so many years, it was believed that 
she could give important testimony in reference to 
Mrs. Dunkirk’s will; but when the papers were issued, 
summoning her as a witness, it was ascertained that 
she had suddenly disappeared from New York, and 
no trace of her could be discovered. Now, to what 
conclusion does this flight of her’s point ? Clearly and 
indisputably, to her complicity in this forgery ! She 
is beyond all doubt as deeply concerned in it as Mrs. 
Maynard or Noll; indeed, without her aid they could 
not have carried out their scheme at all. I presume 
it was a part of their plan for her to disappear in 
case the will were contested. Yes, yes, there can be 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


17T 


no doubt, now, about this conspiracy; I comprehend 
it from beginning to end. The evidence is accumulat- 
ing, and each suspicious circumstance fits perfectly 
into its appropriate place. The motive that actuated 
Jenner is apparent enough; the generous legacy from 
her old mistress was the stake for which she played. 
In order to secure for herself these glittering thou- 
sands, after that genuine document had been de- 
stroyed, it was necessary that a will in favor of some 
available and not improbable heir should be pro- 
duced and probated. Annie Dupont, the sole heir-at- 
law, was among the missing; or rather, she was in 
that still more hopeless category of persons whose 
existence has never been satisfactorily established. 
Clearly, then, Annie Dupont was not to be considered 
in this connection. No more available person than 
Mrs. Maynard could be found; therefore she was the 
one selected. Now, this line of argument would lead 
to the conclusion that the conspiracy originated with 
Tenner; but on the other hand, with the same facts a 
little differently configured, it could be as clearly 
shown that Mrs. Maynard and Noll originated the 
scheme, selected Jenner as an indispensable accom- 
plice, and by allowing her legacy to be doubled drew 
her, a willing instrument, into the conspiracy. This 
is undoubtedly the true state of the case. It was 
^enner, beyond all question, who placed the will in 
Mrs. Dunkirk’s desk and subsequently led up to the dis- 


17 S 


k LITTLE COMELY OE ERRORS. 


covery of it by the lawyers. It was Jeiiner alone 
who could have gained access to Mrs. Dunkirk’s pri- 
vate seal. It was Jenner who recollected that Mr. 
Kernan drew that first will; Jenner who furnished 
the specimens of handwriting by the aid of which the 
forgery was effected ; but they made their first fatal 
mistake in dating this forged will a/ter Norristown’s 
death and Kernan’s departure for Europe. Well, 
well, I am slowly solving all the mysteries of this 
case; and yet thus far, notwithstanding my reckless 
attempts to do so, I have been unable to put my hand 
on a single direct and indisputable proof of Mrs. 
Maynard’s share in the conspiracy. Can I hope yet 
to obtain this evidence? ” 

He raised his eyes to her as this question entered 
his mind. She was apparently lost in a reverie as 
profound as his had been; she seemed even to have 
lost all consciousness of his presence, and when he 
spoke abruptly after a long interval of silence, she 
started as if the whole current of her thoughts had 
been changed. 

“Jenner was quite an old family servant, was she 
not, Mrs. Maynard?” 

The question was so strangely irrelevant to her 
own reflections that Mrs. Maynard smiled a little as 
she answered it. 

“Yes, she came from England with Dr. and Mrs. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. ltd 

Dunkirk when they were married, forty years ago. 
She was their housekeeper, and in this capacity she 
lived with Mrs. Dunkirk all these years.” 

“A clever person, is she not ? ” 

“She is a woman of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, and Mrs. Dunkirk always treated her as a 
friend, rather than as a servant. Jenner’s family in 
England were very respectable middle-class people, 
and she had received a fair education, which, added 
to her native shrewdness, made her appear quite 
above the average of her class. A very sensible, 
clever woman.” 

“Was she friendly to you ? ” 

“From the very first I was secure in her good 
graces. It always seemed a little odd to me, for she 
was not at all disposed to show any friendliness to 
strangers.” 

North nodded slightly. He was making his own 
shrewd mental comments on all these statements. 

“And now, Mr«:. Maynard,” he said, “to pass 
abruptly to another point, as nearly as you can recol- 
lect, when was this will of Mrs. Dunkirk’s — the gen- 
uine one, you understand — when was it drawn? ” 

“As nearly as I can recollect, and I am convinced 
that my memory is not at fault, it was made two 
years before my marriage; just six years ago.” 

“Then you have been married four years,” was 


180 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


North’s instantaneous comment which, however, he 
kept to himself, merely saying aloud : 

“And it was destroyed some ten months previous 
to her death — no, no, ten months previous to the 
present time — these dates are so very confusing — 
four months previous to her death. Then all this 
time from the day on which it was drawn to the day 
on which it w^as destroyed — we can only approxi- 
mate these dates, I presume? ” abruptly. 

“I think so. I certainly have no definite knowl- 
edge of them.” 

“Well, then, during all this time — a period extend- 
ing over about six years, not more and only a trifle less 
— ^that will was in Mrs. Dunkirk’s possession, and, so 
far as we can divine her sentiments in regard to it, 
she was entirely satisfied with the document, and 
was willing that it should stand as her last will and 
testament. Nov/, the next point that I propose to 
take up this morning, if I can do so without consum- 
ing too much of your time, is in reference to Hamil- 
ton Dupont. I consider it important for me to have 
his history, so far as it is known to you, clearly in 
my mind. His estrangement from Mrs. Dunkirk, 
and the uncertainty in which, to this day, that un- 
happy affair has involved the fate of his daughter, 
are matters of vital importance to us. Will you, 
therefore, please tell me briefly what you know of 
the history of Hamilton Dupont? ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


181 


And with pencil poised over his note-book North 
waited for the recital. 

Mrs. Maynard began at once. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


King : — Let tis from point to point this story know. 

—All's Well That Ends Well. 


“Hamilton Dttpont was the youngest of a large 
family, of whieh, by the time he reaehed the age of 
twenty-one, he and Mrs. Dunkirk were the only sur- 
vivors. The eldest of the ehildren, Mrs. Dunkirk, 
was more than twenty years older than Hamilton ; 
a disparity in age that prevented them from having 
any eommon interests or pleasures. All the other 
children died in infancy, and Mrs. Dupont died when 
Hamilton was in his tenth year. He was wild and 
ungovernable in his boyhood, and as he grew older 
he became so incorrigible that his father, who was a 
very hard, stern man, disinherited him.” 

“And — pardon the interruption, but one question, 
please — how soon after this did Mr. Dupont’s death 
occur? ” 

“I really do not know, positively, but it could not 
have been many months after. Hamilton was only 
twenty-one when his father died.” 

“And after this sad event Mrs. Dunkirk and Ham- 
ilton were the only surviving members of the family. 

182 


A LITTLE COMELY OE ERRORS. 


183 


Do you mean by this their immediate family, their 
father’s family, or, in a broader sense, that there were 
no collateral branches, no cousins of any degree? ” 

“I used the expression as Mrs. Dunkirk herself did, 
in its broader sense. She frequently spoke of the fact 
that her family was so nearly extinct. She had not 
a relative in the world, she said, of whose existence 
she had any knowledge.” 

“She was a widow, was she not, for many years? ” 

“She was. Dr. Dunkirk was lost at sea on his way 
to Europe, a few years after their marriage. Of 
course, though, Mr. North, you know all this,” she 
added checking herself with a weary little smile. 

North also smiled. 

“Well,” he said, “my one question has grown to 
several. I beg yourpardonforthislonginterruption. 
Will you please proceed, Mrs. Maynard ? ” 

“Where was I ? Indeed, I have forgotten.” 

“You spoke last,” observed North referring by a 
glance to his notes, “of Hamilton Dupont’s reckless 
course, which resulted in his being disinherited ; and 
my first question elicited the fact that within a com- 
paratively short time after this event, his father 
died.” 

“Oh, to be sure! Now don’t expect a detailed his- 
tory, Mr. North, for my information is extremely 
fragmentary; but it is certain that there had always 
existed between Mrs. Dunkirk and her young brother 


184 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


a barrier of cold reserve, which time and his way- 
ward conduct only increased. Mrs. Dunkirk was not 
a woman possessed of warm affections. Her regard 
for people vvas purely a matter of intellectual esteem. 
If her stern judgment approved them, that was suffi- 
cient; if not, there was no tender voice in her heart 
to please their cause. There was little in Hamilton’s 
wayward life of which she could approve; hence her 
total estrangement from him. 

“After the death of their father, however, she 
seemed to feel the loneliness of her position, and for 
the first time she turned to her brother Hamilton for 
sympathy and companionship. He was in trouble of 
every sort, drifting about in the world without aim 
or purpose, friends or prospects. She offered him 
everything — a home, wealth, social advantages, ask- 
ing only that he renounce his youthful follies and 
strive for the future to devote his talents and ener- 
gies to some useful and honorable pursuit. She final- 
ly induced him to accept this offer; and, having 
established him beneath her roof, she made every 
effort, faithfully, if not always wisely, to reclaim 
him from the error of his ways. His education was 
fair, although he had never completed any regular 
course of study, having been three times expelled from 
college. Mrs. Dunkirk urged him to enter one of the 
learned professions, and, though he had no inclina- 
tion for such a career, he finally yielded to her impor- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


185 


tunities, choosing the study of medicine ; and while 
he was pursuing the course at the university, she 
settled upon him a handsome allowance for his own 
personal expenses. 

‘‘He was not long in attracting a large and bril- 
liant circle of acquaintances, for his dashing manner 
and reckless style of expenditure made him universal- 
ly popular. All this, however, interfered with more 
important matters ; he could not respond to the con- 
stant demands of society and at the same time attend 
faithfully to his duties at the university, and the con- 
sequence was that his studies were neglected, his ab- 
sence from lectures and clinics became the occasion of 
frequent reproofs from the faculty, and in time the 
report of his delinquencies reached Mrs. Dunkirk’s 
ear. 

“Of course she remonstrated with Hamilton, and 
he generally answered her reproaches with angry 
defiance. These scenes, however, always ended in a 
reconciliation, with promises of future good behavior 
on his part, and a resolution on hers to give him one 
more trial. Thus affairs ran on until at last without 
any warning, the catastrophe came. 

“Mrs. Dunkirk had at the very beginning of her 
compact with Hamilton exacted from him a solemn 
promise that he would not marry until he had ob- 
tained his diploma and established himself in prac- 
tice. Unfortunately for this promise, chance threw 


186 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


him into the society of a young lady who was neither 
wealthy nor highly connected, but whose wonderful 
beauty, combined with her sweetness and intelligence, 
took his heart by storm. 

“We shall be obliged to imagine all the details of 
this little romance, since only the merest outlines of 
it are on record. His wooing prospered, and within 
a few months the lady became bis bride. He con- 
trived to conceal the fact of his marriage from his 
sister for several weeks, continuing to reside under 
her roof and devoting himself to the university with 
a zeal that he had never before exhibited ; and Mrs. 
Dunkirk, delighted at what she considered the first 
real evidence of reformation, looked on with kind ap- 
proval and encouragement. It was in the full tide of 
her satisfaction with hiscourse that someone brought 
her the astounding intelligence of his marriage. 

“You can perhaps imagine the sequel. I think she 
might in time have pardoned him if he had not de- 
ceived her so unscrupulously; but that was an offense 
beyond all forgiveness. After a storm}^ scene, with 
biting reproaches on her part and scornful defiance 
on his, they parted forever. He took his wife away 
from New York within a week; and Mrs. Dunkirk 
never looked upon his face again.” 

“Asad story,” commented North as Mrs. May- 
nard paused here. “It seems strange that he should 
have passed so entirely from the knowledge of all his 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


187 


friends. How long did he live after he left New 
York?” 

“It was just two years later, I believe, that the 
papers contained meager accounts of his tragical 
death in Baltimore.” 

North gravely assented . The brief outline of this his- 
tory that he had received from Hunter and Ketchum 
had not embraced any particulars of Hamilton 
Dupont’s tragical death ; but he deemed it best not 
to pursue his inquiries on that point. After a little 
musing silence Mrs. Maynard volunteered some ad- 
ditional information. 

“His wife, poor girl, died soon after, broken 
hearted. I have been told that the papers made 
quite a pathetic romance out of the materials thus 
furnished, and there was a great deal of sentimental 
pity expressed for the poor little Annie, who was thus 
cast upon the cold charities of the world. But the in- 
terest in the matter soon died out; it was only the 
sensation of a few days, and it gave place to later and 
more exciting events. Thus the fate of Annie Dupont 
became shrouded in mystery. The chances are, how- 
ever, that the poor child died long ago — perhaps in 
infancy.” ^ 

“And was this mere newspaper story the only in- 
timation Mrs. Dunkirk ever received that she had 
such a relative as Annie Dupont? ” 

“It was positively the only foundation for that be- 


188 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


lief; yet she was willing and eager to credit it. The 
fancy used to recur to her mind continually, without 
anything at all to justify it. She was almost childish 
in the way she alternated between the doubt and the 
belief.’^ 

“A very mysterious case/’ commented North with 
a perplexed frown. “And now let me inquire, Mrs. 
Maynard, had Dr. Dunkirk any near relatives ? ” 

“Not in this country. His family, you know, were 
English.” 

“Had he any property?” 

“None whatever.” 

“Then all this great wealth of Mrs. Dunkirk’s was 
inherited from her father? ” 

“Entirely from him.” 

“The heirs, if any there be, must all be on the 
Dupont side? ” 

“So I imagine.” 

“ There are no heirs on that side? ” 

“None.” 

“Unless Annie Dupont is discovered? ” 

“Oh, certainly! That is always granted, Mr. 
North.” 

“How soon after Hamilton Dupont’s death did 
Mrs. Dunkirk commence her search for Annie? ” 

“It must have been at least ten years before she 
made any effort to trace the child,” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


189 


‘^She did not advertise nor resort to any very 
public measures?” 

‘^The search was conducted in a very quiet way, 
though she spent a great deal of money and employed 
the most skillful detectives.” 

“And all to no purpose?” 

“No trace of the child was ever discovered.” 

“Finally, Mrs. Dunkirk herself became convinced 
that there was no such person in existence? ” 

“As I said, Mr. North, her mind wavered between 
tne two opinions. She told me shortly before my 
marriage, that she had quite lost faith in that old 
rumor about her niece; and yet it returned to her 
afterward and led to the destruction of her will four 
months before her death.” 

“Well, Mrs. Maynard,” said North with an air of 
firm conviction, “one of two things is certain. 
Either there is not and never has been any such per- 
son as Annie Dupont in existence, which is to my 
notion far the more plausible theory, or there are 
persons who are interested in keeping from the world 
all knowledge of her whereabouts. In either case, 
we need not apprehend the final defeat of our plans, 
through her.” 

“Do you think so?” The question was uttered 
listlessly without any appearance of interest or ela- 
tion. She did not even glance at him as she spoke. 

“I am convinced of it,” he reiterated, looking at 

13 


190 


A LITTIvE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


her in mild surprise. “It is my firm belief that if 
Annie Dupont is living to-day, she is as profoundly 
ignorant of her own true identity and of her right 
to this fortune, as we ourselves are of her present 
whereabouts. Now it appears, Mrs. Maynard,” he 
went on with another abrupt change of subject and 
manner, “that you had no claim upon Mrs. Dun- 
kirk except, indeed, that of friendship, which she ac- 
knowledges here ? ” 

He took up Mrs. Dunkirk’s letter, which had lain 
all this time unnoticed on the table at his elbow, and, 
unfolding the thin blue paper, he glanced at it specu- 
latively. 

“That was my only claim, yet she seemed to con 
sider it sufficient. This may be merely my own mis- 
taken interpretation of her words, however. What 
opinion have you formed, Mr. North, as to the value 
of this letter as evidence in our case? ” 

North preserved a meditative silence for a few 
moments ; then he answered slowly : 

“I must say, Mrs. Maynard, that in my opinion 
this letter clearly proves that Mrs. Dunkirk, although 
not yet ready to declare the fact, had determined to 
make you her heir, on the one condition that her 
niece were never discovered. Hear her own words : 
— ‘While I live I must retain the control of my prop- 
erty; after I am gone, what matter to me who has 
it ? ’ She wQuJd lief it should be joxi as anyone 


A LITTJLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


191 


else, you see ; yes, she would prefer you, as the lines 
further on indicate : ‘ There is no one that has a 

greater claim upon me than yourself. This claim I 
feel at present ^ — the emphasis is my own, but mark 
the words, if you please ; do they not clearly indicate 
the writer’s character ? — ‘at present inclined to rec- 
ognize.’ Delightfully neutral, charmingly non-com- 
mittal; giving you to understand, you see, that, 
after all, she might change her mind. It gave her a 
sense of power to keep you in suspense as to her real 
intentions ; at the same time her purpose remained 
unchanged, I have no doubt. ‘ Charitable bequests 
I do not favor.’ Why? ‘I have given freely to pub- 
lic and private charities during my lifetime, and have 
received but meager thanks.’ She was weary of the 
ingratitude of the public. She reasoned, and indeed she 
reasoned well, that if they gave ‘but meager thanks’ 
while the beneficent donor was living, and there was 
a possibility of still further gifts when she was gone, 
and there would be nothing to look for beyond the 
testamentary bequests, she would receive no thanks 
at all. No, no ! She wished her fortune to go to 
someone who would be grateful for it ; someone who 
could properly value it; someone who had a reason- 
able claim upon her generosity; and that person, of 
all others in the world, was clearly and indisputably 
yourself, Mrs. Maynard.” 

North had folded Mrs. Dunkirk’s letter, replaced it 


192 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


in the envelope, and tossed it down on the table 
again while he was speaking these last words. He 
now rose and stood idlj gathering up his note-book, 
pencil and papers, as if preparing to leave. 

While he was thus engaged the footman entered, 
bearing to Mrs. Maynard a small scrap of paper, 
which he presented with an air of dignified disdain. 

The lady glanced at the paper for an instant with a 
rather blank expression ; then with a sudden gleam 
of comprehension she held it out toward North. 

“This has as much interest for you, perhaps, as for 
myself, Mr. North,” she said. 

“The inquiry was for Mrs. Maynard,” ventured 
Williams. 

“Very well, Williams,” said Mrs. Maynard, dis- 
missing him. 

By this time North had with a little curiosity 
scanned the paper that she had given him, and his 
expression was even more blankly amazed than hers 
had been. It was only a name that was scrawled 
on the bit of paper that his fingers held ; but that 
name was Dennis O’Reilly. 

“Dennis O’Reilly? What does this mean?” he 
asked himself in puzzled speculation. “ In this a mere 
coincidence, or am I on the verge of an important 
discovery ? ” 

Mrs. Maynard interrupted his meditations. 

“It is the man who claimed to have a knowledge 


A Little comedy of errors. 19^ 

of Annie Dupont’s history, is it not, Mr. North? 
The name certainly seems familiar to me, as if I had 
heard it recently.” 

“Why, yes,” answered North, too much bewildered 
by this unexpected turn of events to consider his 
words very carefully, “he is certainly the man; but 
why does he come here ? And why should he inquire 
for you? ” 

“These are questions that I might more naturally 
ask of you,” said Mrs. Maynard a little coldly, as 
she regarded North with a glance of surprise. “Is he 
not acting upon your instructions? I understood 
you to say, a few days ago, that you had seen this 
man and had taken measures to gain possession of his 
pretended evidence. Have you decided to abandon 
that investigation, in view of our recent disaster in 
New York?” 

There was almost the suggestion of a refined sneer 
in these last words. Had North been attending to 
them he would have detected the subtle sarcasm and 
also the desperate pain that forced it from her; but 
his mind was at that moment otherwise absorbed. 
Mrs. Maynard’s words had let in a flood of light 
upon the mystery that had been perplexing him. 
Dennis O’Reilly’s appearance there was fully ac- 
counted for. 

“Another singular throw of the dice,” he said to 
himself with grim satisfaction, “and, as usual, it is 


194 


A LITTLIS COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


in my favor. I had actually almost forgotten this 

man who was the real cause of my coming to X , 

and I had no very sanguine expectation of being able 
to find him, my efforts in that direction having thus 
far totally failed ; and behold he turns up without 
any intervention or purpose of mine, all ready to play 
Noll’s game right into my hands ! Well, I have some 
claim upon him, anyway, in view of his overtures to 
Hunter and Ketchum ; and if he is trying to play a 
double game, I shall bring him sharply to book! ” 

With this reflection. North turned to take leave of 
Mrs. Ma^aiard. 

“There must have been some misunderstanding 
about this matter, Mrs. Maynard,” he said suavely. 
“I certainly do not wish you to be annoyed by this 
person, since I can conduct the investigation without 
your direct assistance. I will see the man at once, 
and ascertain whether or not he really possesses in- 
formation that will be valuable to us. I will devote 
as much time as possible to this investigation and 
will call from time to time to report progress ; shall 
I?” 

The permission was coldly granted, and North with 
a bow of farewell withdrew from the drawing-room, 
curious about his coming interview with Dennis 
O’Reilly. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


King : — An hour of quiet shortly shall we see; 

Till then, in patience our proceeding be. 

— Hamlet. 


He found the man waiting in the hall. He was 
apparently about forty years of age, short, stout and 
red-faced with bristling red hair and whiskers, twink- 
ling blue eyes, and an expression of shrewd native 
humor. His clothing, though of cheap quality, was 
neat and whole, and he had the general appearance 
of a thrifty workingman. Not at all the “ seedy 
adventurer that North had half expected to see. 

He looked up with a slight degree of astonishment, 
but an unmistakable recognition in his round wide- 
open eyes, as North approached him ; then bowing 
low with his hat in his hand, he advanced the plain 
indisputable and self-evident proposition: 

Well, Misther North, IVe got back.” 

North surveyed him critically from head to foot 
for an instant. Then he put a leading question ab- 
ruptly. 

You are Dennis O’Reilly, are you not ? ” 

“Indade, sorr, an’ I am that same,” admitted Den- 
nis with another low bow. 

195 


196 A LlTTLfi COMEDY OE fiRROR^. 

“Did you wish to see me? 

“ Yis, sorr, by yer honor’s lave.” 

“Why did you come here, then, and inquire for 
Mrs. Maynard?” 

‘ Sure, an’ that was just what yer honor tould me 
to do,” protested Dennis. “ ‘ T was yersilf, sorr, as 
tould me that yer honor would be out of town whin 
I got back, an’ so I was to report mesilf to Misthress 
Maynard.” 

North nodded slightly at this confirmation of his 
own shrewd suspicion ; adding instantly to Dennis : 

“ Where have you been for the last few days ? Why 
didn’t you report sooner? ” 

“Sooner, is it, sorr? Indade, thin, aj>’ I’ve been 
jist where yer honor sint me, sorr,” was the evasive 
reply as Dennis began to eye his questioner some- 
what askance. 

“Oh, come on!” exclaimed North suddenly taking 
up his hat from the hall table. “I cannot turn Mrs. 
Maynard’s house into an inquisition, and the present 
prospect is that I shall have to resort to the thumb- 
screws and rack before I succeed in obtaining any 
satisfactory information.” This last was an aside, 
as he hurriedly drew on his gloves ; then to Dennis 
he added more intelligibly: “Come with me to my 
hotel, and we will have a confidential talk about this 
matter.” 

Nothing loath, Dennis followed the gentleman from 


A LltTLlB COMEDY 01^ EkRORS. i9t 

the house and down the street at a pace set by North’s 
impatience. They did not exchange another syllable 
until they were closeted together in North’s room at 
the Clement House ; then throwing himself down in 
his favorite lounging-chair and facing O’Reilly, who 
was seated near him, North returned to the charge. 

“Now, O’Reilly, there’s an agreement, an under- 
standing, a business contract between us. Do you 
understand that?” 

It was not clear, from Mr. O’Reilly’s expression of 
countenance that North’s meaning had fully pene- 
trated and permeated his intelligence ; but notwith 
standing his slightly blank look, he gave a prompt 
and enthusiastic affirmative to this question. 

“What do you understand to be the terms of our 
agreement?” continued North, determined to know 
his ground perfectly before he ventured upon any per- 
sonal negotiations with the man. “We’ve both 
agreed to do something, haven’t we? ” 

This at least was within the scope of Dennis’ instant 
comprehension. His ruddy face glowed as he re- 
sponded emphatically : 

“Thrue for you, sorr. An’ it’s misilf as wull kape 
me worrud about that same.” 

“Of course, Dennis, of course; you will keep your 
word and I shall keep mine. Now, what was it that 
you agreed to do for me ? Let us be perfectly sure. 


19S 


A Little comed’^ of errofs. 


before we go any further, that we understand each 
other.” 

The expediency of this precaution seemed to recom- 
mend itself to Dennis at once, and he proceeded to do 
his utmost toward establishing that desirable mut- 
ual understanding. 

“Wull, sorr,” he began, looking reflectively at 
North, “it was all along o’ the sthir made about 
Annie Dupont, an’ thim lawyers in New York puttin’ 
so much in the papers about her, an’ me kn owin’ the 
whoile what a dale o’ throuble had been caused by 
me own cousin Patrick O’Gorman’s wife; for who 
wud it be but Ann Murphy herself, before the praste 
made her Ann O’Gorman (bad luck to me cousin 
Patrick when he did that same ! ) who was house- 
keeper an’ me the coachman for the misthress an’ 
the swate young leddy as was Annie Dupont, sorr, 
an’ niver knew ut ! ” 

The narrative becoming slightly involved here, 
North, who had followed it thus far with intent look 
fixed upon the speaker, interposed. 

“I don’t understand what you are talking about, 
Dennis,” he said a little impatiently, “but I gather 
from what you say that you know something about 
Annie Dupont. Is this so ? ” 

“Sure, an’ haven’t I been thryin’ to till yer honor 
that same?” protested Dennis eagerly. “It was 
tillin’ a friend about it that I was, an’ about thim 


A LII^TLE COMEDl?^ OE ERRORS. 


199 


paphers that contain all the information that thim 
New York lawyers are advertisin’ for, an’ the pa- 
phers safe in Ann 0 ’Gorman’s clutches, bad luck to 
her, whin yer honor sthipped up to me on the strate 
an’ sez, quiet-like, ‘I’ll give yez fifty dollars, Dinnis, 
ifyez wull bring thim paphers to me!’ An’ that’s 
the long an’ short of our agrayment, sorr.” 

And Dennis rubbed his hands together compla- 
cently as if satisfied that he had now made the case 
sufficiently comprehensible even to Mr. North’s mind 

North was regarding O’Reilly with close attention, 
and up to this point he felt reasonably convinced of 
the man’s honesty of purpose. If this were true — 
this story of which already enough had been told to 
suggest its remaining details — then it seemed quite 
possible that he would be able to accomplish the 
mission on which, as the representative of Hunter 

and Ketchum, he had come to X . But did he 

now honestly wish for this consummation? He had 
personal interests that were trembling in the balance; 
how would these be affected by the discovery and 
identification of Annie Dupont, and the establish- 
ment of her legal position as her aunt’s heir ? W ould 
she make an effort to discover and pursue with all 
the penalties of the law the authors of that forgery 
by which it had been attempted to wrest her inherit- 
ance from her? Should he, who held a brother’s 
good name in his hand, place it within her power to 


500 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

seek this retribution? He was no longer the cham- 
pion of Annie Dupont ; for one moment of passionate 
feeling, of desperate temptation, it seemed to him 
that he could ruthlessly sweep her from his path up- 
on which she had so suddenly risen with an indefin- 
able menace and shroud in deeper mystery than ever 
before the fate of one whose truthful history the 
world should never know, 

But with the next moment came a swift recoil 
from this temptation, a feeling of amazement that he 
should have entertained such a thought. Ollin must 
be shielded if possible, but not at such a cost as 
that. Rather, for Ollin’s sake, to undo as far as pos- 
sible the terrible wrong that he had attempted, this 
unknown friendless orphan, heir to a proud name 
and wealth, though now living perhaps in humble 
obscurity, must be sought out and placed in posses- 
sion of her rightful inheritance. 

North had been slowly pacing the floor while these 
thoughts were passing through his mind; seating 
himself now beside Dennis he continued his inquiries. 

^‘How long have you known these facts about 
Annie Dupont, Dennis?’^ 

“Iver since me cousin Patrick tould me, at Teddy 
O’Corrigan’s wake, sorr,” returned Dennis after a 
pause of recollection. 

*‘But when was that? I know nothing about 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


201 


Teddy O’Corrigan’s wake. Can you not tell me 
more definitely than that? ” 

Dennis reflected again with his face contorted as if 
the effort of memory were a painful one. 

‘‘Indade, thin,” he exclaimed, suddenly radiant 
with triumph, “it was soon after St. Patrick’s Day, 
for I remember that poor Teddy died of a brick-bat 
in the hands of one of the byes, which same was 
niver mint for Teddy at all, at all, but for the 
blatherin’ perliceman that was makin’ himsilf 
throublesome to the byes in the purade.” 

“St. Patrick’s Day?” repeated North. “Then it 
is nearly a year since Patrick told you. Have you 
talked to anyone about the matter during this 
time? ” 

“Niver a bit, sorr, till the day whin yer honor 
heard me tellin’ Jim Nolan about it.” 

“Was that before or after you had written to 
Hunter and Ketchum of New York, offering to give 
them this information ? ” 

The question was asked sternly, and North’s face 
was equally stern as he spoke. 

Dennis started as if he had been shot, and his eyes 
grew more round than ever in his astonishment and 
dismay. He was beginning to stammer out some 
answer, when North coolly added : 

“Don’t lose your senses, now, nor attempt to 
evade my question. I happen to know all about that 


202 


A LITTLE COMED\ OF ERRORS. 


little affair, and J wish to know whom you commu- 
nicated with first ; for it is pretty evident that you 
have been accommodating enough to offer yourself 
to both parties. Come, now, to my question again. 
Was it before or after you had written to Hunter 
and Ketchum ? ’’ 

Dennis had not yet recovered from the confusion 
into which he had been thrown on being thus sud- 
denly confronted with his double-dealing; but he 
answered humbly : 

“It was after, yer honor.” 

“ First claim ! ” reflected North, conscious of a slight 
satisfaction in the thought ; then he added, address- 
ing Dennis sharply : 

“Don’t you know that, having communicated with 
Hunter and Ketchum as you did, you had no right 
to enter into any similar negotiations with anyone 
else? However, as events have developed, you will 
not get into any serious difficulty in consequence of 
this double-dealing, if you faithfully perform all that 
you have undertaken; for let me give you to under- 
stand that my interests are identical with Hunter 
and Ketchum’s, and you cannot serve one without 
equally serving the other. Now, what have you been 
doing since that day of which you speak, when you 
were overheard discussing this story of Annie Dupont 
yv^ith Jim Nolan ? What h^ve you been doing toward 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


203 


fulfilling the agreement then and there entered 
into?” 

“Faith, sorr, an’ it’s to Ivansburg that I’ve been, 
to see Ann O’Gorman an’ coax her to give me thim 
paphers.” 

“Wouldn’t she do it?” asked North quickly, per- 
ceiving at once the possible obstacle to the success of 
his plans. 

“Niver a bit, sorr. She swore by all the 
blissid saints that she’d howld on to thim as long as 
she lived, bad ’cess to her! An’ me a-coaxin’ an’ be- 
saychin’ her, an’ me cousin Patrick hilpin’ me loike a 
ginthleman, for it’s a part of the money I’d promised 
him if he’d be afther a-usin’ his influence wid Ann, an’ 
shwarin’ he’d break her head if she didn’t give in 
paycable! ” 

“Patrick is a valuable coadjutor, though I cannot 
say that I wholly approve of his methods of persua- 
sion,” commented North with innocent gravity. 
“And in spite of all this argument, did Mrs. O’Gor- 
man remain obdurate? Did she persist in refusing to 
give up the papers? ” he added, perceiving the neces- 
sity of rendering his speech more lucid. 

“Indade, an’ she did, sorr, till I was so thried wid 
her that I jist kem away without thim,” returned 
Dennis in a belligerent tone. 

“I shall find a way to induce Mrs. O’Gorman to 
come to terms if it shall really transpire that she is 


204 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


suppressing important documentary evidence/^ re 
marked North with a trace of skepticism in his tone 
and manner. “ But before I proceed to any desperate 
measures I wish to have some idea of what those 
papers contain. Come now, Dennis, my good fellow, 
ifyou can tell ‘a plain, unvarnished tale,’ begin at 
once, and impart to me all that you know of this 
wonderful story.” 

And lazily lighting a cigar. North settled himself 
comfortably in his chair to listen. But after the first 
few puffs he forgot his cigar and everything else in 
utter amazement at the story that Dennis now related 
to him. When at last the rambling but consistent 
narrative was ended, North rose from his chair, 
tossing aside the lifeless cigar, and walked rapidly to 
and fro with half-smothered ejaculations expressive 
of his astonishment and incredulity. 

“ Impossible ! A fabrication on the very face of it ! ” 
he muttered under his breath, half vexed at himself 
for having listened to such a story. “And yet, what 
can this man hope to gain by such a stupid imposi- 
tion? And how could his story tally so perfectly 
with the few facts in my possession if they were not 
genuine bits of the same mosaic of truth ? ‘Stranger 
than fiction,’ indeed, if it provenot to be one tissue of 
falsehood from beginning to end ! I must go at once 
to Evansburg and see this O’Gorman woman. She 
shall not refuse me when I demand those papers ! ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


205 


Pausing beside Dennis, North added, with his watch 
open in his hand : 

‘‘How far is it to Evansburg, my good man? ** 

“Tin moils, sorr, by the commissioners’ road,” 
answered Dennis eagerly, perceiving North’s inten- 
tion. 

“The commissioners’ road?” echoed North. “Is 
that the only way to get there ? Is n’t it on the line 
of a railroad? ” 

“Railroad, is it?” returned Dennis with fine scorn. 

‘Niver a rail goes anywhere near it, nor a road, 
savin’ the one I mintioned to yer honor.” 

“Then I must drive over,” said North closing his 
watch and turning toward the writing-table where 
he had tossed his hat and gloves on last entering the 
room. “And you, Dennis, must come with me. Just 
run down, will you, and call a carriage. I shall be 
ready to start in a very few moments. We must lose 
no time.” 

Obeying this request, Dennis left the room with 
eager haste, evidently anxious to do everything with- 
in his power to expedite North’s movements. 

When, a few moments later. North made his ap- 
pearance on the steps of the hotel, Dennis O’Reilly 
was already there with a close carriage and a pair of 
horses which he had been so fortunate as to secure 
from the Clement House stables. 

Although he was inwardlv consumed with impa- 
ir 


206 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


tience, NortH laid a strong restraint upon himself so 
that outwardly he was a model of cool, calm com- 
posure. While his impulse was to spring hastily in- 
to the carriage and give the rein to the eager, impa- 
tient horses that were chafing under Dennis’ strong 
grasp of the bits, he actually paused on the pave- 
ment to exchange a little trifling conversation with 
a passing acquaintance (of Noll’s) who greeted him. 

It was while he was thus engaged, standing with 
one foot on the carriage step, that a handsome vic- 
toria driven by a liveried coachman came sweeping 
down the street, with an almost imperceptible 
slackening of speed as it came opposite the Cle- 
ment house. North glanced up carelessly and became 
vaguely conscious that Mrs. Maynard, looking like 
a queen in her rich velvet costume, was bowing to 
him graciously from the carriage. Vaguely con- 
scious of this, because in the same moment his glance 
fell upon the lady who was seated beside her; and all 
his carefully assumed composure was swept away 
for an instant by the violent start that he gs-ve, the 
conflicting expressions that passed in lightning tran- 
sition over his suddenly paling face. He never was 
able to recall afterward whether or not he returned 
Mrs. Maynard’s salutation; his only consciousness 
was of gazing blankly after the vanishing carriage 
with his eyes fixed upon that slight, graceful figure at 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


207 


Mrs. Maynard’s side and his white lips murmuring 
insanely the one name: 

“Myra! Myra!” 

He was rudely aroused from this momentary aber- 
ration by a wild clutch at his arm, and turning 
quickly he encountered Dennis O’Reilly. 

“What is the matter with you O’Reilly?” North 
demanded sharply, shaking olf the brawny hand 
that was loath to relinquish its clutch. “Don’t 
touch me again. What has happened to make you 
lose your senses in this way ? ” 

Dennis scarcely seemed to hear these words. His 
round eyes were extended to their utmost capacity, 
his mouth was wide open, his very hair seemed to be 
suddenly electrified and on end with wonder and de- 
light. 

“Did yez say her, Misther North?” he exclaimed 
in a voice that was hoarse with excitement. “The 
swate young leddy in the kerridge, sorr ? Och, Ma- 
Yourneen ! It’s Dinnis as wull niver furgit yer swate 
looks ! By me sowl, sorr> it was Annie Dupont her- 
silf that I saw wid me two eyes this blissid min- 
ute!” 

North stood in stupefied silence for a moment, gaz- 
ing at O’Reilly but in reality seeing only that sweet, 
pale face whose beauty had gladdened his eyes for 
one cruelly brief moment after four long years of si- 
lence and mystery and separation. He was slow to 


208 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


recover his usual sane judgment, slow to compre- 
hend the significance of the words that Dennis had 
spoken. Then in a rush the strange developments of 
the past hour, the stranger confirmation of the past 
moment swept over him. 

Springing eagerly into the carriage and motioning 
O’Reilly to the driver’s seat, he cried in sharp im- 
perative tones : 

“There is no time to waste, Dennis! Drive me to 
Evansburg as quickly as possible! ” 


CHAPTER XV. 


Cas.: — Know yon how much the people may be moved. 

By that which he will utter? 

— Julius Cassar. 

Sands . — If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me! 

— King Henry VIII. 


The city clocks were diiming the hour of four the 
next day when North returned from Evaiisburg 
wearied by the trip and only half satisfied with its 
results. He had won a partial success, and he had 
every reason to anticipate a speedy and complete 
victory ; still in his present mood of eager impatience 
the slighest element of uncertainty, the briefest inter- 
val of delay annoyed him beyond the measure of quiet 
endurance. 

As he went up the steps of the Clement House he 
was loudly greeted by a group of gentlemen, fore- 
most among whom was Warner. 

'‘At last, at last ! Here he is ! arose the chorus ; 
and one voice added: 

“Where have you kept yourself forthelast twenty- 
four hours. North? Here is Warner in the depths of 
despair, and Clipper has been tearing around all day 
calling on his classical heroes and deities for ven- 

209 


210 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


geance if you didn’t put in an appearance before 
night.” 

^‘Why, what is the cause of this excitement?” in- 
quired North glancing calmly around the group. 

Warner, I call upon you to explain it.” 

Shall I go to your room with you, North? I’d 
like to say a word to you privately,” said Warner; 
and, North assenting, they entered the hotel to- 
gether. 

“Now,” said Warner when they were closeted in 
North’s room, “I’ve come to see if you can be ready 
with a speech this evening? ” 

“A speech?” echoed North as he threw himself 
back in an easy-chair with a gesture of despair. In 
his present state of mental and physical collapse he 
felt utterly appalled at the mere suggestion. 

“Yes, at our mass meeting, you know. We’re go- 
ing to have a grand demonstration at the opera 
house to-night — biggest thing we’ve ever had in 
X ,” he added enthusiastically. 

“But this is the first intimation of the affair that 
I have received,” protested North, “and I am utterly 
unprepared for speaking. Make someone else do the 
talking this time, Warner. It will be better for all 
concerned.” 

“Oh, as to that, you’re always ready,” returned 
Warner coolly, “and the meeting was gotten up this 
morning on the spur of the moment. We’ve adver- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


211 


tised it all over town. Clipper’s had boys out with 
hand-bills, distributing them all day, besides getting 
out an extra with a double-leaded announcement of 
the meeting, and you are down in black and white as 
the orator of the evening. So you see. North, there’s 
no help for it; we can’t let you off. You know, you 
haven’t made any address since the primaries, and 
the public are clamoring for you. We’ve heard it on 
all sides lately — ‘Where’s North? Why doesn’t he 
materialize, and let us hear what he has to say 
for himself? ’ So we’ve positively pledged your ap- 
pearance this evening, and it will never do to disap- 
point them. I’m sorry. North, that you’ve had such 
short notice, but I was up here th's morning at nine 
o’clock to tell 3^ou about it, and you were gone, and 
Clipper sent around several times during the day, 
both here and to the office, and you had n’t got back, 
and nobody seemed to know what had become of 
you, though Wee did venture the suggestion that 
you had at last gone to the lunatic asylum to give 
yourself up! It was rough on Clipper, I can tell 
you. I think I’d better go around now and tell him 
that you’ve got back and it’s all right. For of 
course. North, you’ll never think of failing us?” and 
Warner’s face wore an expression of lively anxiety 
for an instant. 

“Oh, by no means!” returned North, perceiving 
that escape from this unexpected and unwelcome 


212 


A LITTLE COMELY OE ERRORS. 


predicament was at least highly impracticable. 
will do my best for yon, Warner, but you must not 
blame me if it is a sorry failure. I shall be poorly 
prepared for any oratorical flourishes this evening. 
I’m afraid I shall disgust the honorable voters of 
X by my lack of enthusiasm.” 

“Nonsense, North, you’ll do nothing of the sort,” 
said Warner with encouraging decision. “You’re 
evidently tired and blue, and inclined to take a pes- 
simistic view of things. Just rest until dinner-time, 
and you’ll be surprised to see how enthusiastic you’ll 
be then. Hang it, man, think of next Tuesday! 
Think of all that’s at stake for our party ; and if 
that fails to inspire you. I’ll send a brass band 
around with fire-works and torpedoes to stir you up. 
Something religious has got to be done!” 

“Have you any serious suggestions to offer?” in- 
quired North negligently. “I presume I am to speak 
in a general way on ^the political situation,’ what- 
ever that may be. Or has the committee announced 
any more definite subject for me?” with an air of 
calm resignation. 

“Don’t think so ; but in any case you’ll be perfectly 
safe in saying just what you please. Any sugges- 
tions — pshaw ! You know as well as I do just what 
you ought to say. Only get your enthusiasm up to 
the proper pitch, and you’ll take the roof off with 
your eloquence ! But it’s time for me to take myself 


A LITTLE COMELY OE ERROEs. 21 S 

off,” he added with a nimble spring to his feet. 
“ Committee meets again in half an hour, with 
power to send for persons and papers, and I’m likely 
to be the first person they send for, if I’m not 
promptly on hand.” 

“If we candidates work one half so hard after we 
get into office as our friends have worked to put us 
there,” observed North with a languid smile, as he 
arose to accompany Warner to the door, “no one 
will be put to the necessity of hunting up mischief 
for our idle hands to perform. By the wa3%” he 
added with a sudden air of interest, “I wonder where 
I can get a file of The Times ? There are various mat- 
ters connected with the campaign that I should like 
to look up.” 

“Why, the colonel’s got a file.” 

“Who, Clipper?” 

“I mean Dayton. Down in the reading room. 
Better see. I’m sure you’ll find it,” and Warner shot 
out of the room and rushed off to meet his committee. 

Going immediately in search of Colonel Dayton, 
whom he fortunately found without delay. North 
received not only the information that there was a 
file of The Times in the reading-room, but also the 
colonel’s permission to have the aforesaid file re- 
moved at once to his room. 

“Now,” soliloquized North, as, with the news- 
papers spread out before him on the table in his 


214 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


room, he sat down with calm desperation in his 
manner, ‘‘I shall have to ‘cram’ local politics most 
assiduously for the next two hours, or woe betide 
this unlucky undertaking of mine! I’m in a particu- 
larly difficult position, and it willrequire all the nerve 
and ‘mother wit’ that I possess to extricate me cred- 
itably. Clipper’s Times is just what I need in this 
emergency. I shall find here my proper political 
views all ready for immediate use, and I shall simply 
need to commit them to memory and air them to- 
night as my own candid and original sentiments. In 
justice to Noll, I must do my best! If I succeed in 
sufficiently imbuing my mind with the spirit of The 
Times, catch the salient points of the canvass and 
watch the drift of public sentiment this evening, I 
may possibly come off with flying colors ! ” 

Once in the spirit of it. North grew quite enthusias- 
tic over his novel undertaking, and the results of his 
two hours’ close application were equally astonish- 
ing and gratifying to him. By the time the dinner- 
gong sounded he had quite a copious collection of 
notes ready to refer to during his address; and he 
was certainly as familiar with the principal points of 
municipal interest involved in the forthcoming elec- 
tion as a careful “cramming” of the political notes 
and leaders in The Times from the beginning of the 
canvass down to the present time could make him. 

Upon going down to dinner he found that the mass- 


A LITTLE COMELY OE EREORS. 


215 


meeting was the all-absorbing topic of conversation 
among the gentlemen, and his own speech was the 
central point of comment and interest. He was soon 
drawn into a spirited discussion of the political situa- 
tion, in which, thanks to his newly acquired data, he 
was able to take part with discretion. 

Nevertheless, although he preserved an outward 
composure and conducted himself with as uncon- 
cerned an air as if haranguing strange audiences on 
subjects in which he had no personal interest what- 
ever and with which he had but a limited acquaint- 
ance were an every-day affair with him. North did 
feel a degree of nervous excitement in view of the 
evening’s events. 

“They are evidently looking to me for the chief 
sensation of the evening,” he thought uncomfort- 
ably, “though whether as oracle or clown, I can’t 
tell ! Apparently Noll has the reputation of being 
very clever on the rostrum, — or else he hasn’t, — and 
one or the other of these pleasing possibilites is the 
rock on which I am in danger of being wrecked. 
Well, there’s no need of borrowing trouble ; and, as it 
is an undeniable fact that not one-half of the honor- 
able gentlemen who hold forth so eloquently on the 
grand principles of municipal and state and national 
government know what they are talking about, I 
really do not see why I should feel particularly con- 
cerned about the result of my present undertaking. 


216 A LITTLE Comedy of ERROKb. 

IVe brought many an obstinate jury around by 
sheer force of skillful rhetoric and personal magnet- 
ism ; and it is the same thing now, on a more ex- 
tensive scale.” 

This reflection acted like oil upon the troubled sea 
of his thoughts ; and when he returned to his room 
after dinner it was with much of his nervous appre- 
hensiveness changed to a calm and confident antici- 
pation of success. 

He was putting the finishing touches to his toilet 
and surveying with pardonable satisfaction the ele- 
gant figure reflected in his dressing-mirror when he 
was summoned to the door to admit Warner, who 
had called with the intention of escorting the orator 
of the evening to the all-important meeting. 

North was in recklessly high spirits now, and he 
greeted his caller with a torrent of lively nonsense. 
Weighed down by the responsibilities devolving up- 
on him as a member of the executive committee, and 
disapproving of North’s levity on so important an 
occasion, Warner was in no mood to appreciate this 
nonsense, and his answers were short, business-like 
and far-between. Consequently something like 
seriousness had settled down upon North before they 
had walked two squares together. It was only the 
outward semblance, however; his inward mood was 
one of reckless mirth and daring — a mood upon 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


217 


whicli he confidently depended to carry him through 
the evening. 

The pretty little opera house was crowded from 
pit to gallery when North stepped out on the stage 
in the full blaze of the foot-lights. He was welcomed 
cordially by the gentlemen there assembled; mem- 
bers of the executive committee and distinguished 
citizens who had been specially invited to grace the 
stage with their presence. As he was responding to 
this welcome the audience discovered him, and in- 
vStantly a murmur of enthusiasm swept over the 
house, culminating in a storm of applause that made 
North look around involuntarily, though he did not 
think of appropriating the compliment until Warner, 
who was just at his elbow, whispered sharply : 

“Why don’t you acknowledge your reception, 
North? For goodness’ sake, do keep your wits 
about you better than this ! ” 

Thus admonished. North turned to the audience 
with a very profound bow, which was greeted with 
fresh bursts of applause ; then as the chairman, a 
pompous old gentleman whose lengthy list of official 
titles all with the prefix “Ex” testified to a longlife 
of active public services now gracefully laid aside, 
rose to call the meeting to order. North took refuge 
in an arm-chair in a retired position on the stage 
where, though an inconspicuous figure himself, he 
could command a comprehensive view of the house, 


218 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


and settled himself with a slight shrug, and with 
feelings that can be more easily imagined than de- 
scribed, to survey the large audience who were soon 
to hang spell-bound, so he humbly ventured to hope, 
upon his eloquent utterances. 

After the brief preliminary remarks of the chair- 
man, which were received with a good-natured dem- 
onstration, as if the audience at least had assembled 
themselves together with the best intentions imagin- 
able, whatever might be said of the speakers, and 
meant to applaud and hurrah, whatever happened, 
a tall, solemn man made a short address in which he 
said a great many sensible things in a very tiresome, 
mournful, utterly unimpassioned way, which had a 
soporific effect upon the audience, and set even the 
best-intentioned ones to yawning surreptitiously. 
He was listened to unresponsively until he closed his 
remarks with the announcement that “he would now 
yield the floor to others who would occupy it more 
acceptably ; ” then the auditorium rang with the loud 
applause which might have been construed either as 
a hearty indorsement of his final statement or as the 
involuntary expression of the self-congratulation of 
the audience for two separate and distinct causes, 
to-wit: first, that the gentleman’s remarks had been 
brief, and secondly, that the gentleman’s remarks were 
now ended. 

He was followed by several other speakers, of that 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


219 


class so well known to a long-suffering public; orators 
who, with nothing at all to say, talk on forever in 
the blind belief, perhaps, that this American republic 
is to be preserved and perpetuated through the same 
agency that once saved Rome. All the elements 
that ordinarily enter into a heated political dem- 
onstration were present there — the ranting 
denunciation of all opposing parties; the ^‘mag- 
netic enthusiasm*^ that caused the audience to howl 
with patriotic fury; the glowing tributes to na- 
tional heroes dead and gone, whose illustrious 
careers had about as much to do with the local elec- 
tions of X as the great men themselves would 

have had, if they had been living; the heavy thunder 
of the big guns and the rattling fusilade of the 
lighter artillery which was brought into use for the 
first time in the present campaign. The political 
situation was duly set forth in various styles of 
oratory— the ornate, the spread-eagle, the laboriously 
off-hand, and, rarest of all, the plain, practical com- 
mon-sense style; and, as North listened critically to 
every word that was spoken and noted the effect 
upon the audience, he gathered many valuable hints 
for his own speech, which he was quick to appropri- 
ate and apply. 

Then as the last speaker, one of Ollin North’s fellow- 
candidates, sat down, flushed with his enthusiasm 
and the exhilarating effect of his eloquent gestures, 


220 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


the audience settled themselves with an air of ex- 
pectancy for the chief event of the evening, their 
future city attorney’s address. 

There was a brief interval between the acts, during 
which the orchestra played choice selections from 

Patience” and “Martha” and other well-known 
light operas, interspersed with popular sentimental 
and patriotic airs, the whole forming a pot-pourri 
adapted to the various tastes of the audience. A 
hum of voices filled the house. The gentlemen in plain 
view on the stage conversed together decorously or 
sat in grave dignified silence gazing up at the glitter- 
ing lights or down at their respective and highly 
polished boots as if they fully appreciated their con- 
spicuous position and wished to set the public an ex- 
ample of behavior worthy of imitation; while North, 
leaning back languidly in his deep arm-chair, quite 
hidden from general view by the portly figure of the 
chairman, conversed in a tantalizing way with his 
friend Warner, who had taken advantage of the 
temporary lull in the proceedings to urge upon North 
with stern vehemence, the necessity of dropping all 
levity and rising to the occasion. All of which ap- 
parently had no effect upon North ; and Warner was 
in despair. 

At that interesting crisis a slight sensation was 
produced by the arrival of Colonel Clipper. North 
had already noticed and wondered at his absence. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


221 


He crossed the stage with stately commanding tread, 
bowing informally to the gentlemen there assembled, 
and slipping behind the outer circle of chairs he made 
his way to North’s side. 

“Got here at last!” was his triumphant though 
somewhat superfluous announcement, delivered 
breathlessly as if his exertions to appear upon the 
scene had been attended with great exhaustion ; and 
he shook hands with North vigorously, nodding to 
Warner at the same time in a confidential way. 

“Detained so long at the office,” he added, address- 
ing North, “that I was afraid I should miss your 
speech; but I see I’m just in time. What’s the pros- 
pect — considerable enthusiasm in the audience? 
How is that, Warner?” turning to that gentleman 
as if he considered him the more competent judge. 

“Avery good feeling on all sides,” was Warner’s 
prompt report. “ Tremendous enthusiasm in reserve, 
if it’s only skillfully aroused; ” and he glanced sharply 
at North as if to add: “You can do it if you will, 
but that’s a doubtful question as yet.” 

The colonel nodded in a perfectly satisfied way, 
and at that instant, some public-spirited person hav- 
ing checked the mad career of the orchestra, they put 
up their instruments with an evident consciousness 
of having done their worst, and a slight paroxysm 
of applause rounded off the performance. 

As silence gradually settled over the house the 


222 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


chairman rose, turned toward North with a signifi- 
cant glance, and then, in a few highly eulogistic re- 
marks, introduced to the audience “ our distinguished 
fellow-citizen and candidate for city attorney, Mr. 
Ollin North, who now appears before you as the 
orator of the evening, and who will address you in 
his usual eloquent manner, on the interesting theme 

— ahem! — ‘The Political Future of X ; What it 

might be, and What they who Constitute the City 
Government should Strive to Make it.^’ 

The worthy chairman delivered this fine volley of 
words with quite an oratorical flourish, then paused 
and gazed around upon the audience, who now be- 
gan to cheer rather impatiently, as if conscious that 
in working up that theme for North the zealous com- 
mittee had done a very neat thing. North himself, 
as he stroked his mustache nervously to conceal the 
amused smile that rose to his lips, thought in a mo- 
mentary panic: 

“The future ofX 1 And I’ve been studying up 

the political past and present, letting the future take 
care of itself! However, the theme allows me con- 
siderable latitude, and I may find it easier to deal 
with shadowy futurities than with past and fulfilled 
realities.” 

With this hopeful reflection he stepped forward, 
bowed to the chairman, and amid the ringing apT 
plause that greeted him h^ made his graceful salute 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


223 


to the audience, while his eye swept the galleries 
with perfect self-possession as if, in thus facing his 
large constituency, he felt no lack of confidence either 
in his own strength and ability or in their apprecia- 
tion and support. 

Waiting only until the enthusiasm had subsided 
sufficiently for him to make his voice heard. North 
began with a graceful acknowledgment of the re- 
ception that had been accorded him, weaving into 
his remarks with consummate tact the most delicate 
flattery of the audience, which was ingenuously in- 
dorsed by hearty cheering. Then he mentioned 
Colonel Clipper’s name, and amid the applause that 
this reference elicited, he proceeded briefly to eulogize 
that gentleman’s devoted public services, giving due 
credit to Warner and others who, as faithful coadju- 
tors, had stood shoulder to shoulder with the val- 
iant colonel in many a hard-won fight. 

Finally, having struck fire from the audience by 
these skillful and well-directed blows until the glow 
could be seen and felt in all parts of the house. North 
glided neatly and effectively into the elaborate theme 
that had been announced for him. 

It has been sometimes advanced as an axiom in 
oratory, founded on the experience of many famous 
public speakers, that there can be no signal success 
promised to any orator who does not approach his 
audience with a feeling of diffidence amounting even 


224 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


to stage-fright. Granting this to be correct, there 
was a brilliant promise of success in the frame of 
mind with which Allan North entered upon this ad- 
dress. During all the time that he was speaking 
with such ease and fluency he was watching the au- 
dience with a keenness that would have detected the 
slightest evidence of an unfavorable impression; and 
it was no doubt due in part to this intense interest 
and concentration of his own thought upon the au- 
dience that he held them in such close sympathy and 
attention. The very novelty of his situation, in- 
stead of embarrassing him, seemed to afford him a 
peculiar inspiration, and as b}^ degrees he gained con- 
fidence from the hearty applause that he received, he 
gave himself up to the influences and illusions of the 
moment, and threw himself heart and soul, into 
what he was saying. 

So completely was he swept along by the force of 
his own imagination that he quite forgot he was not 
the man whom everyone in that large audience firmly 
believed him to be ; and instead of a comedy played 
of necessity for his own convenience, the whole affair 
became to him for the time an important and digni- 
fied reality. He grew earnestly interested in his 
theme, and after sketching with vivid oratory all the 
possibilities that lay in the future, when the com- 
mercial and manufacturing interests, now in their 
infancy, the educational facilities, the natural ad- 


k Little comedy of errors. 


^25 


vantages of X were fully developed, he closed 

with a strong and eloquent plea for justice, liberty 
and morality, without which no enduring prosperity 
could be attained. 

The assembly were held in a state of almost breath- 
less attention from the beginning to the close of the 
address; and when finally with a brilliant peroration 
that led by rapid degrees to an eloquent climax, the 
speaker bowed his farewell to the audience, they 
broke forth into a storm of applause that rained 
down from the galleries and swept in tempestuous 
waves over the house. 

It was unquestionably the most astounding suc- 
cess that Allan North had ever achieved; and when 
it was all over, his astonishment fairly balanced his 
relief. 

As soon as he could escape from the admiring popu- 
lace, who showered compliments and congratula- 
tions upon him and insisted on shaking hands with 
him, after the impulsive custom of the average 
American, he was carried off to his hotel b}^ his two 
right-hand men, Clipper and Warner, who seemed to 
feel as much pride in his manner of acquitting him- 
self as if they had shared the achievement. 

“Best thing you ever did. North,” was Clipper's 
verdict, as he parted from North at the hotel. “Gets 
away with even that speech in court that made you 


226 


A Little comedy oe errors. 


so famous last winter. Don’t you think so 
Warner? ” 

“Decidedly!” was Warner’s brief and emphatic 
assent. 

And only one man in X knew to what diligent 

effort and calm daring that brilliant success was 
due. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


Prince Henry: — What pagan may that be? 

— King Henry IV. 


It is no doubt delightful, and a thing to be greatly 
desired and zealously striven for, to stand well with 
our fellow-men ; nevertheless, there is such a thing as 
an oppressive and embarrassing popularity. 

It is not, indeed, the universal privilege to learn 
this fact by personal experience; but Allan North 
was fated to make the agreeable discovery. He 
awakened the next morning to the knowledge that 
he was, at least for the present time, the most popu- 
lar man in X ; and he was forced to submit smil- 

ingly to the enthusiastic hero-worship that the fickle 
public is always so ready to lavish upon its favor- 
ites. 

Had his mind been free from any personal anxieties 
and cares he might have found this an interesting ex- 
perience ; but there were many matters vitally affect- 
ing himself, whose importance so far overshadowed 
the political issue with which he had become tempo- 
rarily identified, that its intrusion upon his thoughts 
and attention seemed like an impertinence, only to 

227 


^28 k LiI'tLe comedy oe erroM. 

be endured as philosophically as possible for policy 
sake. 

The unexpected demand upon him for a formal 
public address and the necessity of meeting this 
emergency had for the time driven his own affairs 
from his mind; but no sooner was the crisis safely 
passed than his thoughts turned more eagerly than 
ever to the possibilites and hopes and fears which the 
last two days had developed. That one moment, 
when he stood before the steps of the Clement House 
and caught the fleeting vision of one who, if she were 
not in very truth the proud and beautiful Myra 
who had once reigned royally in his heart and who 
now lived in his bitterest memory, was so strangely 
like her that the sight of her face had thrilled him 
with sudden passion— that one moment, full of keen 
pain, of eager, mad hope, he had lived over and over 
again, solacing himself thus until the moment should 
come when he could change this suspense to cer- 
tainty. 

In the meantime, speculation was rife. If it were 
really she, his Myra, by what strange fatality did 

they meet here in X ? And why should she be 

with Mrs. Maynard? By what curious freak of fort- 
une were these two women, whose interests had be- 
come so closely interwoven with his own, though he 
had never before suspected their mutual connection, 
thus thrown together ? 


k LlfTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


22^ 


Of course his reflections on this point were mere 
fruitless conjecture; nevertheless they possessed a 
great fascination for him, and even his satisfaction 
at having solved the mystery so long enveloping 
Annie Dupont was quite eclipsed by this far deeper 
personal feeling. 

He did not, however, lose sight of the necessity foi 
caution ; and for the present he realized that his pro- 
fessional interests must be paramount. The flower 
success, which he hoped to pluek, was still just a 
little bej^ond his reach and surrounded by the nettle 
uncertainty; until this prize was secured he must 
close his eyes to all other allurements, even though 
his only chance or hope of happiness lay within 
them. 

It was therefore solely in pursuance of his pro- 
fessional duties — or so he assured himself with great 
emphasis — that he went on the morning following 
his signal success at the opera house to call on Mrs. 
Maynard, before proceeding to Evansburg on his 
second and probably decisive visit, and give her 
some hint of the turn that aflairs were taking. 

His walk thither was enlivened by a curious inci- 
dent, which however he might soon have forgotten 
but for its speedy and embarrassing sequel. 

He had just entered upon the quiet vista of Dela- 
plaine street, absorbed in his own interesting reflec- 
tions, when his attention was idly directed toward a 


230 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

gentleman in an invalid^s chair which an attentive 
valet was slowly pushing along the pavement. The 
thin, shrunken figure in its rich attire, sparkling with 
diamonds and resplendent in fine linen, attracted 
perhaps rather more than a casual attention from 
North, whose mind was impressed by the painful 
contrast between the abject wretchedness of the in- 
valid’s face and the pomp and splendor of his out- 
ward circumstances. Helpless and suffering, he was 
evidently not one whom the severe discipline of phys- 
ical affliction had softened and refined ; it was but 
too obvious that here was a mind as warped and 
diseased as its frail tenement. The expression of his 
face betrayed a harsh, selfish nature exaggerated al- 
most to a grotesque degree by years of self-indulgence. 
He appeared to be constantly on the alert to dis- 
cover something that he might construe into a griev- 
ance. The querulous glance of his restless eyes, the 
sneering curl of his thin lips under a fierce iron- 
grey mustache, forestalled all words, and were a sufii- 
cient warning to persons of acute penetration not to 
give him the provocation for which he was evidently 
watching, to give way to violent and aggressive 
wrath. 

North was passing this gentleman with the specula- 
tive but courteous glance of a perfect stranger, when 
to his utter amazement he was accosted in the most 
peremptory manner. 


23i 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

The wheel-chair was brought to a sudden halt, 
while a petulant voice uttered the startling challenge: 

“North, you jackanapes! What do you mean, sir? 
Do you intend to insult me ? ’’ 

North was electrified. What had he done ? Who 
was this interesting invalid ? 

“Someone, evidently, whom I ought to know,*’ he 
thought, “and whom it will be awkward and unfort- 
unate to offend. What can I do to pacify him? ” 

Then, lifting his hat as he turned back to the gen- 
tleman, North said with an apologetic air : 

“My dear sir, I beg your pardon. I was preoccu- 
pied, and did not recognize you at all.” 

This statement, although offered with charming 
frankness and suavity, was quite thrown away upon 
the deeply offended gentleman. 

“Oh, don’t tell me! ” he cried with angry emphasis, 
looking at North with his shrunken sallow face suf- 
fused with a purple flush, and his small black eyes 
flashing resentful fire. “Your wonderful harangue 
last night turned your head, I presume. Preoccupied, 
were you? Didn’t see me, eh? Heavens and earth, 
sir, that’s false ! It was a piece of deliberate imper- 
tinence, North, and you know it. You’re carrying a 
high hand just now, young man; oh, yes, a very 
high hand, but we’ll see how long it will continue! 
My patience will not last forever. Heavens and 
earth, there’ll be the mischief to pay one of these 


232 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


days! You don’t hoodwink me so neatly after all, 
Mr. North; I’m not the shallow dupe that you take 
me to be! ” 

“Well, upon my life, what mad, raving maniac is 
this?” thought North blankly; then rallying from 
his amazement he said calmly: 

“I beg your pardon, sir, you are under an entire 
misapprehension. I have no motive nor desire to 
hoodwink you, and so far as my transactions have 
any connection with yourself they are open to your 
inspection. And now, sir,” he added, sternly check- 
ing the torrent of abusive words that he plainly per- 
ceived to be imminent, “I beg leave to end this collo- 
quy. You have a claim upon my forbearance ; other- 
wise I should require you to apologize for the 
language in which you have just indulged. Good 
morning, sir.” 

It will readily be understood that the effect of this 
encounter was not tranquilizing, and there were 
superficial traces of annoyance in North’s face and 
manner when, a few moments later, he entered Mrs. 
Maynard’s drawing-room. 

He had not inquired if Mrs. Maynard were disen- 
gaged, rather indolently taking it for granted that 
she would be; and he was very much annoyed to 
find that lady occupied with morning visitors. Mrs. 
Maynard was one of the few ladies in X who 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


233 


found it expedient to hold morning receptions; and 
this happened to be her “day.” 

North felt extremely awkward on discovering that 
he had intruded a purely business call upon a social 
hour; but before he could excuse himself and with- 
draw — indeed before he was able to decide whether 
or not this would be his better course — he was seized 
upon, figuratively, by the entire drawing-room and 
retreat was impossible. Finding that he was inti- 
mately acquainted with everyone present, he entered 
with measurable agreeableness into the current of 
small-talk, inwardly hoping that none of his iriends 
would notice the circumstance that neither when he 
first addressed them, nor in his subsequent conversa- 
tion, did he call any of them by name. 

He seized an opportunity to speak a few words to 
Mrs. Maynard in private, during the course of his 
call. 

The conversation had turned upon a wonderful 
cactus which the gardener had just induced to bloom 
for the first time. Everyone had seen it, except North; 
and with the same exception everyone was going 
into raptures about it. 

North immediately became enthusiastic on the sub- 
ject, for the cactus was in the conservatory, beyond 
the reach of the sharpest eyes or ears in the draw- 
ing-room. 

“Mrs. Maynard,” he exclaimed, turning to that 


234 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


lady with an air of mock appeal, *^my happiness de. 
pends upon my seeing that cactus ! Will you favor 
me to this extent ? 

With some laughing rejoinder she led the way to 
the conservatory, which opened from the drawing- 
room, and a moment later they stood alone in the 
warm, moist, perfume-laden place, with great banks 
of tropical plants, wide-spreading palms and stately 
cannas, casting a delicate green twilight around 
them and a soft, dreamy silence pervading the fra- 
grant gloom. 

North duly examined the cactus and expressed the 
proper degree of admiration ; then turning quickly to 
Mrs. Maynard while his manner changed from the 
superficial suavity that he had adopted for the draw- 
ing-room to a portentous gravity, he said in a low 
tone: 

^^Mrs. Maynard, I have something of great impor- 
tance to tell you. You will be surprised — perhaps 
disagreeably. Shall I speak now, or wait until some 
other time? 

She was tearing the petals from a great crimson- 
hearted rose, and she did not look up ; but the slight 
tremor of the languid white fingers betrayed to him 
the nervous agitation against which her pride and 
will were contending with only partial success. 

^‘You may speak now, Mr, North.” Then, wearily, 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


285 


“Why should you wait? It is no worse at one time 
than another.” 

“True, Mrs. Maynard; and certainty, however un- 
welcome it may be, is always more easily borne than 
suspense. In one word, then — Annie Dupont has 
been discovered.” 

The soft color in her cheeks died out quickly in the 
surprise that she felt at this announcement, and for 
an instant her eyes lifted themselves to his with a 
half incredulous inquiry. 

“You did not expect this, Mr. North?” she ques- 
tioned quietly; a curious reserve in her manner which 
made him vaguely conscious of having lost ground 
with her since their last interview. The intimation 
was too subtle and slight for him to be able to seize 
upon it and definitely assign a cause ; but, had not his 
affairs been shaping themselves so satisfactorily with- 
in the last few days, it would have occasioned him 
infinite uneasiness. 

“Expect it?” he repeated with a short expressive 
laugh. “No more than Annie Dupont herself! lean 
scarcely use a stronger comparison. It’s the strang- 
est case, Mrs. Maynard, one of those that prove the 
statement that truth is stranger than fiction. I have 
not yet been able to lay my hands on the documents 
which will prove her identity, and establish her legal 
claims as Mrs. Dunkirk’s niece and heir; but that 
these documents exist I have proof as clear as th^ 


236 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


noon-day, and I confidently expect within the next 
twelve hours to have those papers securely in my 
possession.” 

Absently breaking off a bit of pale blue heliotrope 
that was reaching out temptingly toward him over 
the mass of fragrant blossoms, he put it carelessly in 
his buttonhole as he spoke these last words. 

“Does this proof come through the man who called 
here a few days ago ? ” inquired Mrs. Maynard with 
the same reserve and in a speculative tone. Her 
fingers were still busy with their work of destruc- 
tion ; her eyes idly watched the great crimson petals 
fluttering to their death. 

“O’Reilly?” North smiled a little with his eyes 
fixed in sharp but baffled scrutiny upon her coldly 
unresponsive face. “ Yes, through him. Icouldtake 
him into court to-day, with two or three other per- 
sons who are equally within reach, and by his sworn 
testimony, without the aid of any documentary 
evidence whatever, establish Annie Dupont’s iden- 
tity so thoroughly that no combination nor conspir- 
acy against her could possibly overthrow it ; but for 
her sake I prefer to wait for the corroborative testi- 
mony that those documents contain. There will 
surely be but a few hours’ longer delay.” 

He was unconscious of the warmth in his words 
and manner until he was awakened to the fact by 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


237 


the cold, surprised inquiry in Mrs. Maynard’s sud- 
denly lifted eyes. 

“You are singularly enthusiastic, Mr. North,” she 
said slowly, holding her gaze steadily while North, 
with momentary discomfiture, felt himself flushing a 
little under its cold accusation. “You leave me no 
possible inference but that your most ardent wish is 
to establish this identity. May I ask if your sudden 
interest in this hitherto unknown heiress is purely 
professional? ” 

He did not, at that moment, fathom the suspicion 
in her mind, but he vaguely caught its superficial sig- 
nificance. A curious little smile crossed his face, then 
a perfect inscrutability veiled its whole expression. 
Mrs. Maynard, observing him with sharp intentness, 
felt all the shock of a sudden and unexpected repulse^ 
She had knocked at a door that had instantly been 
double-barred and locked against her. 

“As for that, Mrs. Maynard,” North rejoined after 
a moment’s pause, his manner light and jesting, “so 
long as the lawyer is also a man, it is not alwa^’s 
possible to disassociate his personal and professional 
feelings. If they don’t antagonize each other, they 
generally become merged, you know.” 

“Especially where a young and beautiful heiress is 
concerned,” suggested Mrs. Maynard with quiet 
bitterness. 

“Why do you think that Annie Dupont merits 
16 


238 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


that description, Mrs. Maynard?” demanded North 
teasingly. 

“Were we speaking of Annie Dupont ?” returned 
Mrs. Maynard with a frigidly polite stare. “Your 
question implies a degree of self-consciousness, Mr. 
North. But pray excuse me; I cannot leave my 
friends any longer. I have been absent from the 
drawing-room too long already. Understand me 
distinctly, Mr. North,” she added, facing him proudly 
for an instant with a brilliant color in her cheeks 
and a defiant light in her dark brown eyes, “I am 
sincerely glad to hear of Annie Dupont’s good fort- 
une, and I congratulate you with all my heart on 
having been the disinterested means of bringing 
about this happy result! ” 

North confusedly murmured his thanks and turned 
to follow her to the drawing-room. He felt amused, 
annoyed, and on the whole rather disappointed in 
this interview. It had developed absolutely nothing 
to his practical advantage, while it had suggested a 
whole train of bafiling speculations; and to crown 
all, he had a harassing suspicion that in this pas- 
sage-at-arms with Mrs. Maynard he had not figured 
so creditably as he could have desired. But he had 
no opportunity to indulge his slight chagrin on this 
account, for the instant he re-entered the drawing- 
room he received a shock that drove all these less im- 
portant matters from his mind for the time. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


239 


At the furtiier end of the long drawing-room, talk- 
ing to a garrulous old dowager in eye-glasses, who 
had evidently captured her upon her first appearance 
in the room, stood a young lady — yes, the very 
same whom he had seen with Mrs. Maynard in the 
carriage ! 

She was tall and slight, with a proud, delicate face, 
whose exquisite fairness was accentuated by the soft 
clinging crape of a rich mourning dress. She was 
beautiful enough to make a sensation in any social 
assembly, yet so icily cold that all words of admira- 
tion would freeze upon the most ardent lips. There 
were many who, observing her in different moods, 
fancied that beneath this ice throbbed a warm heart 
that had suffered as only the heart of a proud, lov- 
ing woman can; but of this the serene brow and lips 
gave no sign. 

North stood transfixed for a moment, as if oblivi- 
ous of the presence of others, unconscious of the emo- 
tions that his face was betraying. All doubt was 
gone from his mind. Even if he could have ques- 
tioned the direct evidence of his own eyes, he re- 
ceived convincing proof in the cold recognition that 
her proud glance expressed as it rested upon him for 
an instant. It was not such a glance as a perfect 
stranger, however indifferent toward him she might 
feel, would bestow ; under all its hauteur a flash of 
passion lay— scorn, contempt, unforgiving resenf- 


240 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


ment, which told of the pre-existence of some kindlier 
sentiment. In answer to the look that she met from 
his eyes a scornful little smile flitted over her lips, 
and bowing very slightly in recognition of his pres- 
ence, she deliberately turned away to avoid any fur- 
ther notice of him, and continued the conversation 
which had suffered no break in consequence of this 
little by-play. 

So quickly had the mutual recognition taken place 
that only one person in the drawing-room besides 
the two most intimately concerned had taken cog- 
nizance of the fact. Mrs. Maynard had spoken twice 
to North and he had not heard her; but when, sud- 
denly recalled to his surroundings, and the fact that 
he must behave sanely while he was under the scru- 
tiny of so many curious eyes, he turned toward her 
with an effort to resume his usual manner and ex- 
pression, she was saying in a low, satirical tone: 

“You seem to take a strange interest in Miss 
Hilary this morning, Mr. North. May I suggest 
that your manner is a little — just a little, perhaps — 
noticeable? ” 

North flushed deeply ; he had not yet regained his 
self-possession, as his hurriedly uttered words proved. 

“I have seen Miss Hilary before, Mrs. Maynard. 
We are quite old friends,” he said. 

The mockery in Mrs. Maynard’s smile instantly 


A LIT^TLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


241 


changed to something else not quite translatable, but 
suggesting utter disbelief in his statement. 

‘‘Indeed! ” she said coldly. “No one would have 
suspected this from your manner of meeting her here 
two weeks ago.^’ 

“My manner of meeting her — ’’ North abruptly 
checked the indignant disclaimer, adding desperately : 
“There has been a misunderstanding, Mrs. Maynard, 
which I cannot ejgdain now, but in a few days more 
I shall be at liberty to speak. In the mean time — 
will you not pity rather than condemn? 

It was an involuntary appeal wrung from him by 
the sudden fear that before he could have an oppor- 
tunity to plead his cause before Myra some malign 
fate might interpose and separate them again. If he 
regarded Mrs. Maynard as the impersonation of that 
fate his heart must have failed him, for marble could 
not have been more cold and pitiless than her face as 
she turned away from him with the words : 

“Unless you deserve condemnation, you surely do 
not require pity. Your request is a confession, Mr. 
North.’’ 

She left him then, in order to receive someone who 
had just entered the drawing-room; and North, re- 
viving as if from the effect of a sudden dash of cold 
water, found his wits sufficiently to resolve upon an 
immediate departure. 

He had succeeded, after waiting a few moments for 


242 


A LITTLE COMEDY OP ERRORS. 


tile opportunity, in making his adieux to Mrs. 
Maynard, and had reached the drawing-room door 
when Williams confronted him with a message. 

“Major Maynard’s compliments,” he said bowing 
low, “and will Mr. North please come up to the 
major’s study for a few moments ? ” 

It flashed upon North’s mind instantly that there 
must not appear in his manner the slightest hesi- 
tancy about complying with this request, and he 
therefore assented at once; but he was in no enviable 
state of mind as he followed Williams up the broad 
staircase. Oddly enough, he had never calculated 
. upon the probability of his being compelled to meet 
Major Maynard, and he had not prepared his mind 
for such an emergency. He had no time now to do 
more than to rally his self-possession and nerve him- 
self to meet the unexpected in whatever shape it 
might present itself to him, falling back upon a 
measurably clear conscience as a sustaining factor. 

The major’s “study” — so-called, although there 
was nothing in the appointments of that luxurious 
den or in the occupations daily pursued within its 
four walls to warrant such a designation — was sit- 
uated near the first landing of the winding stairway. 

As North entered, he perceived a gentleman in a 
richly embroidered dressing-gown, l3dng at full length 
in a reclining-chair. In his first glance North recog- 


A LIT'TLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


243 


nized in this person the irascible invalid whom he had 
within the past hour encountered on the street. 

This speedy identification of his assailant affected 
North somewhat as an earthquake shock might have 
done ; but concealing his feelings as well as possible, 
he advanced with the greeting: 

“Good morning, Major Maynard. I believe this is 
the second time to-day that I have had this honor. 

A silent, sneering scrutiny was at first his only 
answer, and North was beginning to feel seriously 
annoyed, when at last the major, motioning toward 
a chair which North declined, began in a mocking 
way: 

“Oh, you he not * preoccupied ’ now, eh? You rec- 
ognize me, do you, Mr. North ? Heavens and earth, 
sir! It’s a wonder that you didn’t come in pretend- 
ing that you had never seen me before. Do you often 
get drunk. North? ” 

“Never, sir! ” returned North indignantly. 

‘ ‘ Never ! Oh, very likely — very likely indeed ! Then 
I have no explanation of your extraordinary behavior 
this morning ; none whatever. Now, North, I am 
going to ask you a few plain questions, and I expect 
you to answer them. Do you hear me. North? ” 

“Certainly, Major Maynard,” returned North with 
a delicate sarcasm in his emphasis, “I hear you.” 
For the major’s voice had been anything but “soft 
and low.” 


S44 


A Little comedy of ErEOES. 


‘‘Well,” pursued that gentleman imperiously, “are 
you going to answer me ? ” 

“That will depend altogether upon the nature of 
your questions,” said North, looking him steadily in 
the eye. “ It is perhaps unnecessary for me to say 
that I shall use my own discretion in the matter.” 

“Oh, you will, eh? Use your own discretion, sir? 
Heavens and earth. I’ll not stand this! ” roared the 
major, perfectly furious at North’s hauteur. “ You’ll 
find, sir, that your best discretion will be to treat me 
with proper respect. Now, I’ve kept myself posted 
about this case. Oh, you need n’t ask me what case 1 
You know perfectly well that I allude to that forged 
will. It’s a very mysterious affair, North, very mys- 
terious, and I have my own suspicions about it. Now 
I want to know in plain terms, without any coward- 
ly evasions, what share you and Mrs. Maynard have 
had in this business. It looks bad for you, North ; 
don’t deny it, now. Are you mixed up in that for- 
gery? ” 

Even eyes less shrewd and unfriendly might have 
seen the gradual whitening of North’s face, though 
he held every muscle in such iron control that its ex- 
pression did not materially alter. It might have been 
anger alone that sent the color even from the lips 
that were compressed like marble for a moment be- 
neath the sweeping dark mustache. 

“You don’t answer me. North!” cried the major 


A Lll'TLE OoMEDY of ERRORS. 245 

exultingly after a brief interval of silence. ^‘You 
stand convicted without one word to say for your- 
self. Oh, I told you so! Heavens and earth, sir, you 
don’t fool me!** 

“Did you expect me to answer such an accusation 
as that? ” demanded North haughtily. 

“No, I didn’t expect it. North. I thought you 
would try to evade the charge, and so you did. But 
it will all come out yet. North, depend upon it; your 
iniquities will be exposed, sir. And now it appears 
that you and Mrs. Maynard are putting your heads 
together and trying to find that girl — that Annie 
Dupont. Is n’t this so. North ? ” 

“Pardon me, this is Mrs. Maynard’s own affair. 
Whatever she is pleased to communicate to you. 
Major Maynard, you are at liberty to know. You 
are not at liberty to question me on the subject.” 

“Ans’wermy question. North!” roared the major 
in great wrath. “Are you doing this, or not? ” 

“I distinctly decline to answer.” 

“And I insist that you shall answer! I have a 
right to know.” 

“Then, why do you not ask Mrs. Maynard? ” 

“ Because I choose to ask you. Do n’t interrupt me. 
North, with your impertinent questions ! I disapprove 
of this w'hole business, sir — totally disapprove of it, 
and Mrs. Maynard is well aware of the fact. Yet she 
disregards my advice and goes directly counter to my 


246 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


express wishes, simply because, forsooth, you counsel 
such a course ! Your conduct is reprehensible. North, 
reprehensible to the last degree, and I have a right 
to complain of it. I tell you. North, you and Mrs. 
Maynard are bent upon robbery, — downright delib- 
erate robbery, sir, — and it’s time there was a check 
put upon your proceedings.” 

“Robbery ? ” North repeated the word with ealm 
surprise, while he stood, with folded arms, looking 
steadily and haughtily at the major. “Of whom, 
may I ask, sir? ” 

“ Of whom ? ” retorted the major angrily. “ Of that 
poor orphan whose fortune you are trying to steal. 
Annie Dupont, sir — that’s whom!” 

“I am happy to assure you. Major Maynard, that 
nothing could be further from our intentions than 
what you suggest. If it should ever be my good fort- 
une to discover that young lady, I should do every- 
thing in my power to place her in possession of her 
legal rights.” 

“Oh, you would, eh? Place her in possession of 
her legal rights, would you?” sneered the major. 
“ That’s a likely story ! Why are you trying so hard 
to find her, then, and keeping so very quiet about it, 
if you intend any good to her? Fair words don’t 
cheat me. North. I know very well that you’ve a 
scheme in your heads to steal every dollar of that 
fortune from her. But I’ll thwart you yet. North — 


A. LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


247 


Heavens and earth, I’ll thwart you, if I have to 
bring disgrace upon the family name to do it ! ” 

“Are you insane. Major Maynard?” cried North, 
white with the indignation that he could no longer 
control. “Your malice explains your bringing this 
preposterous accusation against me; but one would 
think that the very commonest instinct of chivalry 
would forbid your speaking thus of your wife! ” 

For one moment the major was silenced; catching 
his breath quickly he looked up at North, with a 
dazed wonder that presently gave place to boister- 
ous and contemptuous merriment. 

“My wife?” he repeated, almost choking over the 
words. “Heavens and earth, sir, do you intend this 
for a ghastly attempt at a joke? My wife? Hang 
me if I don’t believe that you are drunk, after all! 
How dare you refer in this way to my brother’s 
widow? ” 

If a man who has been pushing forward into an 
unknown country, believing himself to be on firm 
ground, should suddenly find that he was sinking in 
quick-sand, we might perhaps imagine his sensations 
on making this discovery, yet find it difficult to de- 
scribe them. To those whose imaginations are equal 
to picturing the details of such an experience we leave 
the task of divining Allan North’s state of mind 
when he found the solid ground of his own conject- 
ures thus suddenly giving way beneath his feet. 


248 


A LITTLE COMELV OE ERRORS. 


Amid all the chaos of his thoughts these three words, 
'' My brother's widow” stood out distinctly, point- 
ing the events of the past few days with a signifi- 
cance that he had never before suspected. 

Before he could collect himself sufficiently to realize 
either the startling fact that he had just learned or 
the magnitude of his own blunder, the major re- 
turned to the attack. 

“Now I want to know, North, if you intend to 
keep on with your search for that girl, or if you’ll 
agree to give it up — eh? ” 

The tone and words acted upon North as a sudden 
restorative. He spoke decisively and sharply in re- 
ply. 

“I must refer you once more to Mrs. Maynard. 
As her lawyer, I can have no discussion whatever 
with you on these points. It is dishonorable for you 
to question me with a view to eliciting information 
which she sees fit to withhold from you.” 

“Oh, dishonorable, eh? Heavens and earth, do 
you tell me that I am dishonorable?” roared the 
major, while his eyes sparkled with delight at having 
at last so tangible a grievance to seize upon. “Did 
you come up here to insult me, sir? ” 

“Neither to insult you, nor to be insulted by you,” 
returned North coolly. “If your language has been 
courteous to me, mine has certainly been respectful 
to you.” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


249 


“You may leave the room, North ! ” exclaimed the 
major, ringing furiously for his valet; and North 
waited for no further dismissal. Bowing with iron- 
ical deference he withdrew from the room, hastened 
down-stairs and left the house. 

As he closed the gate behind him he cast a glance 
full of mingled relief and yearning at the stately 
brown-stone mansion. In a flash the recollection of 
his first speculative survey of the place, scarcely one 
short week ago, returned to him. 

“How little I dreamed then of what would result 

from this visit to X ! ” he exclaimed mentally as 

he turned and walked rapidly down the street. “ Be- 
fore I cross that threshold again I shall have all the 
proofs of Annie Dupont’s identity in my possession ; 
and then — then, Myra darling, you s/ja/f listen while 
I plead my own cause before you ! ” 


CHAPTER XVII. 


Player King: — * * * ** 'Tis not strange that e'en our love should 
With our fortune change ; 

For ’tis a question left us yet to prove, 

Whether love lead fortune, or else fortune love. 

— Hamlet, 


In Mrs. Maynard’s drawing-room a soft glow 
from the sea-coal fire in the grate was filling the early 
twilight with sparkling ruddy tints. Seated in a 
low easy-chair jpst within this glow, during the 
ileisure hour before dinner, Mrs. Maynard was mus- 
ing bitterly with no interruption save the tinkling 
melodies that Miss Hilary’s idle fingers were sweep- 
ing from the glistening white keys of the piano-forte. 
But soon the player rose from the instrument, and, 
coming toward the fire-place, she stood revealed in 
the fitful red light, a slender queenly figure in her 
softly clinging black gown. 

Mrs. Maynard quickly roused herself from her rev- 
erie on Miss Hilary’s approach, and addressed her with 
a slight nervous tremor in the voice that she vainly 
strove to keep in its usual sweet, low, even tone. 

“My dear Miss Hilary, if you will permit me, I 
should like to speak to you about Mr. North. Is it 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


251 


quite true that he is an old friend of yours ? You 
know, my dear child, you are in a certain sense under 
my social guardianship, and I feel responsible for 
your — for anything affecting your happiness.” 

The proud girlish face changed color slightly dur- 
ing this address, and the red lips were firmly com- 
pressed for an instant as if to control a sudden quiver 
of pain ; but the eyes remained dreamily fixed upon 
the glowing fire and there was no indication of emo- 
tion in the low voice that presently answered : 

“Pray, do not include Mr. North among any of the 
possibilities affecting my happiness, Mrs. Maynard. 
His existence even is a matter of indifference to me. 

Mrs. Maynard was too thoroughly a woman not 
to understand the exaggeration in this statement. 
She immediately decided that she would be justified 
in renewing the attack upon the same line. 

“I wish, for his sake, that I could say as much for 
him,” she said slowly, affecting to be absorbed in her 
idle twirling of the dainty hand-screen that she held 
before her eyes, but in reality watching anxiously the 
play of expression in Miss Hilary’s changeful face. 
“But he betrayed to-day, when off his guard for a 
moment, a degree of interest in you which, under all 
the circumstances of your recent meeting here, seemed 
to me very singular to say the least ; and when I com- 
mented upon this fact he attempted to explain it by 
saying that you were old friends. It seems strange, 


252 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


does it not, that he should have resorted to a declara- 
tion that is so easily proven to be mistaken ? ” 

Miss Hilary was now pale as ashes, and in the soft 
shining of her eyes, as they were still fixed upon the 
coals, there was a suggestion of repressed tears. But 
she spoke in a firm, calm manner after a little silence, 
and with scarcely a perceptible unsteadiness in her 
voice. 

^‘It is quite true, Mrs. Maynard, that we were once 
friends — and more than friends. If I had dreamed 
that it would result in my meeting Mr. North, I 
should never have come to you at all. No, I mean, 
if I could have foreseen that our meeting would be 
what it was, for I confess that I had expected some- 
thing very different if Fate should once more throw 
us together ! But it is far better to have all illusions 
swept away than to waste one’s time in useless 
dreaming; is it not, ma chereF” 

“ My dear Myra ! ” It was the sweetest and most 
delicate sympathy that was mingled with the sur- 
prise in this low-breathed exclamation. 

“Oh, I am forcing a disagreeable confidence upon 
you!” cried Miss Hilary, with a sudden little laugh 
of self-disdain. “I forgot how uninteresting such 
things are to a third person. Pray forgive me, Mrs. 
Maynard.” 

“Not forcing, my dear Miss Hilary,” protested 
Mrs, Maynard, reaching up quickly and clasping the 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


253 


fair hand that hung listlessly at Myra’s side. ‘‘Did 
not I invite your confidence? But indeed, I have no 
wish to intrude upon any experience that is sorrow- 
ful or sacred ; do not misunderstand the feeling that 
prompted me to introduce this subject.” 

Withdrawing her hand quietly after a moment, 
Miss Hilary drew a low hassock forward into the 
glowing firelight and seated herself near the chair in 
which Mrs. Maynard was reclining. For a moment 
she remained silent, with her gaze once more dream- 
ily intent upon the fire, where a fairy castle, glowing 
from the very heart of the white coals, reared its fan- 
tastic towers; then she began slowly, in a voice in 
which a little effort was betrayed : 

“It seems strange for me to speak so freely of this 
affair, and yet, after all, there are sufficient reasons 
why I should confide the story to you. Since we 
have been thrown together under your roof, and 
especially since Mr. North has chosen suddenly to de- 
part from the cold formality of a perfect stranger, 
with which he first met me here two weeks ago, 
and assume the attitude of an old friend — to which 
privilege he has forfeited every claim! — it is only 
right that you should know the little that there is to 
tell concerning my past acquaintance with him.” 

“I shall be glad to know all, my dear Myra,” inter- 
polated Mrs. Maynard softly. “It may serve as a 
guide to my own future course.” 

17 


254 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


‘‘I met Mr. North,” continued Miss Hilary, mus- 
ingly, “in the White mountains, four years ago. We 
were guests at the same hotel, and through the in- 
troduction of a common friend we were made ac- 
quainted. From the hour of his introduction he 
became one of our select party, and wherever we 
went, whatever we did, he was sure to be with us — 
with me,” she added in a lower tone, while the fire- 
light flashed more redly for an instant over her pale 
cheeks, “for he devoted himself to me from the first. 
He charmed mamma by his constant and delicate at- 
tentions to her, and when, after a six weeks’ ac- 
quaintance, he asked for my hand in marriage, he 
readily won her consent. He had told us little about 
himself or his family, but mamma understood from 
some New York friends that his antecedents were 
irreproachable, and she never thought of questioning 
the worth of his personal character. 

“Immediately after our engagement we were sep- 
arated. Business called him home to New York, and 
mamma and I returned to Boston. Then fell upon 
me the first bitter sorrow of my life. I cannot tell 
you the story that was brought to me — the cruel, 
cruel story that forbade me ever to think of him 
again ! I tried to believe that it was false, but so 
fair an aspect of truth did it wear that I was forced 
to give it credence. Overwhelmed with grief, anger 
and humiliation on discovering that I had been de- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


255 


ceived, I acted foolishly and hastily, my one thought 
being to sever the bond that had so suddenly grown 
hateful to me. I sent the engagement ring back to 
him with the simple request to be released from a 
promise which I was no longer able to fulfill. Mamma 
was ill at the time — too ill for me to tell her then 
of this trouble; and that very day her physician had 
ordered a sea voyage for her, as the only means of 
prolonging her life. Our arrangements were 
hurriedly made, and in two days more we were on the 
ocean, bound for the south of France. This may 
have been the reason that no word from Mr. North 
ever reached me ; at all events, I received no answer 
to my message, and could only infer from his silence 
that my release was granted unconditionally. 

“We remained in France until poor mamma’s death 
last summer; then I returned to Boston, at the re- 
quest of the administrators, to remain there until 
the estate could be settled. In the meantime I had 
learned the truth in regard to the rumor that had 
caused me to break the engagement, the fatality that 
had linked his name falsely and unjustly to the story 
of another man’s wrong-doing. I was thankful for 
his vindication, even though I might never look upon 
his face again ; and this I scarcely expected to do. I 
saw nothing of him, heard nothing of him, until, on 
the very first day of my visit here, we met as strang- 


256 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


The resolute voice died away here in something 
very like a sob. There was silence for a few moments ; 
then Mrs. Maynard said quietly, though with evi- 
dent emotion : 

“It is natural, perhaps, that after the manner of 
your dismissal — sudden, peremptory, and without 
any explanation whatever — Mr. North should now 
give you nothing but a stranger’s greeting. Remem- 
ber, he had sufficient occasion for resentment, being 
innocent of that of which you believed him to be guilty 
and perhaps wholly unconscious of the supposed 
fault for which you condemned him unheard.” 

“Oh, I know!” interrupted Miss Hilary with a 
sharp accent of pain, that sounded like impatience, 
in her voice. “There is no defense for my course; I 
was hasty, irrational, unjust, and I deserve to suffer 
all the consequences. It isn’t that — it is the evidence 
of his fickleness, his treachery, his deliberate double- 
dealing — oh, don’t you understand me, Mrs. 
Maynard? Believe me, it was no jealous curiosity 
on my part, but I could not help seeing — ” 

“I understand you, my dear Myra,” said Mrs. 
Maynard calmly, as the distressed girl paused here, 
at a loss for words to continue. “You rightly di- 
vined that Mr. North was my avowed suitor; but, 
happily for me, not yet accepted I ” 

“I have no right to complain of that,’* interposed 
Miss Hilary, her pretty head lifted, her ejres bright 


A Lil'TLE COMEDY OP ERRORS. 257 

with girlish pride. “It is not strange that he should 
admire you, love you, as his every glanee and tone 
and action revealed that he did ; wh^^ he seemed 
scarcely conscious of my existence, so wholly ab- 
sorbed was he in you ! And to me the strangest part 
of it all was that he betrayed no recollection of the 
past, no resentment toward me, no consciousness' 
that we had ever met before. This pained me, but I 
accepted it as only what I ought to expect, and I re- 
solved to go away as soon as I could find any reason- 
able pretext for cutting short my visit here, and 
henceforth bury out of sight that dead past in which 
he bore a part. It was only when he looked at me 
as he did to-day, as a lover might, you know, that I 
saw the depth of his duplicity; and I think now that 
I hate him for being so false to us both ! ” 

Again there was a little silence, so controlled that 
no hint would have been given a casual observer of 
the tragical emotions that were contending in the 
hearts of these two women. It was Mrs. Maynard 
that spoke next, in a cold, hard, relentless tone. 

“We both have great cause to congratulate our- 
selves, my dear Myra, on having discovered Mr. 
North’s true character before it was within his power 
to wreck the life-long happiness of either. I hesitate to 
tell you the truth that has recently forced itself upon 
my belief.” 

The color died quickly from Miss Hilary’s face 


258 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


again; there was a vague alarm expressed in her 
trembling tones as she responded hurriedly: 

“Oh, let me know the worst, Mrs. Maynard! 
What is he ? What has he done ? 

“It would be nothing,” continued Mrs. Maynard 
bitterly, “for him to vacillate between two fancies 
—to alternate and hesitate in his choice between 
yourself and me — ” 

“Oh, my dear Mrs. Maynard!” came in tones of 
whispered protest from the white-faced listener. 

“It would be nothing,” repeated Mrs. Maynard 
in the same hard, bitter tone, “that his conscience 
would reproach him for, or that society would 
seriously condemn; therefore, this phase of his con- 
duct does not materially surprise me. But I am sur- 
prised to find that this man who is habitually so 
watchful of his own interests, so careful of his own 
safety, so jealous of his own comfort and happiness, 
should allow his interest in any matter to carry him 
to the length of becoming a criminal in the eyes of 
the law.” 

“A criminal! ” 

Miss Hilary’s white lips repeated the words breath- 
lessly ; then for a brief space refused to speak again. 
At last she asked tremulously : 

“What crime has he committed?” 

“Oh, a very gentlemanly one, indeed,” returned 
Mrs. Maynard with quiet sarcasm. “It is nothing 


A Little comedy of errors. ^59 

worse, my dear Myra, than forgery. I have already 
told you briefly of the recent will contest in which I 
had so great an interest at stake ; I did not tell you, 
as I feel in duty bound to do now, that I suspected 
who it was that forged that will. By his own tacit 
admission I know that it was Mr. North ! ” 

The calmness was all gone from voice and manner 
before these last words were fairly uttered. A 
woman with less pride would have broken down 
completely; Mrs. Maynard sat with compressed 
lips and tightly interlaced fingers, holding herself 
under a rigid control. She did not look at the girl 
who was sitting so silently on the hassock at her 
side; but she was vitally conscious of all the grief 
and amazement that Myra Hilary’s face so plainly 
revealed. 

The fairy castle in the grate suddenly fell into 
sparkling ruins, sending out a flash of brilliant flame 
that illumined the twilighted drawing-room for a 
moment with the glow of a strong, red light. Then 
by degrees the illumination subsided into fitful 
gleams, playing with wierd effect of light and shadow 
over the dim room, and giving a transient glow of 
color to the two white faces that were turned si- 
lently toward the fire. It seemed hours to Myra 
Hilary, in the blank wretchedness that kept her own 
lips dumb, before Mrs. Maynard spoke again; but it 
was in reality only moments, a space easily filled by 


260 


A lititle comedv of errors. 


the slow striking of the great clock in the hall and 
the tardy response of the drawing-room clock, whose 
silvery chime fell tinkling upon the silence. As if 
waiting only for this interruption to cease, Mrs. 
Maynard resumed as soon as the last stroke died 
away: 

“You can imagine witH what a shock this revela- 
tion fell upon me — this dreadful suspicion which his 
own words and manner first suggested to my mind, 
and then tacitly but unmistakably, confirmed. It 
was difficult for me to realize what I was neverthe- 
less forced to believe. And then I blamed myself far 
more than him, for I feared that it was my eagerness 
to secure that fortune that had led him on to take 
this fatal and desperate step. You know what rea- 
son I have to wish for an independent fortune ; you 
have seen with your own eyes the unhappiness of my 
life here, under the same roof with the man who has 
hated me with a causeless, insane hatred from the 
day of my marriage to his brother, and who, during 
the four years of my widowhood, when the condi- 
tions of my husband’s will made my inheritance of 
the pittance that he allowed me dependent upon my 
continued residence here, has abused to the utmost 
his invalid’s privilege to make existence a burden to 
me. Can you wonder that I saw a welcome release 
in the chance of possessing that childless old woman’s 
wealth, which she had conditionally promised me over 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


261 


and over again should be mine ? And it was for this, 
I thought, to secure to me the prize that I coveted so 
eagerly, that he had committed this deed! You can 
perhaps imagine the agony of self-reproach that this 
thought brought to me. Then by degrees the scope 
and possibilities of his motives were revealed to me ; 
my perception of his character and his capabilities 
widened. By a wonderful and unexpected turn of 
the wheel of fortune, the missing niece and heir-at- 
law was discovered ; the proofs of her identity and 
whereabouts fell into his hands. Instantly his 
active sympathies were all transferred from my in- 
terests to Annie Dupont’s. The desire to ingratiate 
himself with the successful heiress would be perhaps 
a natural and sufficient motive for this change in 
him ; but that another and still stronger motive ex- 
ists, I have become reasonably convinced. And this, 
my dear Myra, is the keynote of my warning to 
you.” 

*‘To me?” Miss Hilary repeated the words in- 
credulously with a little start of amazement. “To 
me ? Why, Mrs. Maynard, what have I to do with 
this matter? ” 

“Perhaps I can satisfy you that you have a very 
important part to play in this interesting little 
drama,” returned Mrs. Maynard with a rather 
forced smile. “I date Mr. North’s sudden interest in 
you, which you yourself noticed to-day for the first 


262 


A IjT'rLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


time, to a certain day this week when we drove past 
the Clement House and saw him about to step into 
a carriage that was waiting there. With him was a 
man who had called here an hour before, and left the 
house in company with Mr. North ; the mysterious 
man through whom all the recent diseoveries about 
Annie Dupont were made. Mr. North had just had 
a private interview with this man, and doubtless 
had heard his story. And, as we drove slowly past, 
it was you that absorbed his whole attention; you 
at whom he gazed with such rapt interest that he 
did not see me at all. I bowed to him as usual ; he 
paid no heed ; his eyes were fixed upon your face, 
while a strange excitement and agitation were ap- 
parent in his whole manner. I did not see him again 
until he called this morning. During the few mo- 
ments that we were alone in the conservatory he 
told me that Annie Dupont had been discovered, and 
that he should soon be in possession of all the evi- 
dence necessary t© establish her legal position and 
rights; told me exultingly, as if he took a cruel 
pleasure in taunting me with rhy defeat. He little 
knew that I had divined the truth, the secret that he 
was so jealously guarding, that he had discovered 
Annie Dupont under my own roof! ” 

Again Myra started with visible amazement. 
There was no clearly defined perception of Mrs. 
Maynard’s meaning in her mind, yet the words had 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


263 


been spoken with too much significance to fail utterly 
in impressing her with their suggestive trend. She 
repeated them mechanically, with vague speculation 
in her tones : 

“Under your own roof? 

“In you, my dear Myra, ’’continued Mrs. Maynard, 
her white lips smiling faintly as she returned the 
girl’s inquiring gaze. “Don’t ask me for proof. I 
know it ; partly by intuition and partly by an end- 
less chain of trifles that would vanish into thin air 
if I were to attempt to put them into words, but 
which are nevertheless as convincing to my mind as 
the most palpable evidence could be. I cannot be 
mistaken ; I feel, I know, that it is so ! ’’ 

“I will not ask for proofs, Mrs. Maynard,” said 
Miss Hilary, still bewildered and incredulous. “I 
will simply ask you how this can be true. Oh, it 
seems utterly impossible! I cannot believe it!” she 
added quickly, waving her hands toward the fire 
with a resolute gesture of rejection. 

“My dear Myra, it shows a very limited knowl- 
edge of life to say that anything is impossible,” re- 
turned Mrs. Maynard with a slow shake of her head. 
“But for my familiarity with your early history, I 
might have considered my present theory improb- 
able, to say the least ; as it is, I see no reason to 
doubt it. You were very young when Mrs. Hilary 
adopted you, were you not ? ” 


264 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS* 


“So young,” answered Myra, with a little break in 
her voice, “that I never realized that she was not my 
own mother.” 

“Did she ever tell you” — Mrs. Maynard’s voice 
was slightly unsteady as she asked this question, 
while all her nerves were tense with anxiety — ” any- 
thing about your parents ? ” 

“Nothing, except that they were dear friends of 
hers, and were both dead. But, my dear Mrs. 
Maynard,” — Myra clasped her hands and laid them 
on the arm of Mrs. Maynard’s chair while she looked 
earnestly into that lady’s face, — “if there were such 
a history as this connected with me, I should have 
learned something of it long ago. I cannot believe 
anything so wildly improbable.” 

“But, if it be true, what then, Myra?” questioned 
Mrs. Maynard quietly, a singular little smile on her 
face as she looked directly into the girl’^eyes. “You 
will be a rich woman ; rich enough, perhaps, to hold 
the allegiance of this loyal self-lover, who has at last 
chosen between us. Oh, how bitter that sounds! 
But it was the dread of seeing you sacrificed to his 
mercenary selfishness that forced me to speak these 
words of warning and enlightenment. My responsi- 
bility ends here. You are free to deal with him as 
you think best, knowing all that he has done and is 
capable of yet doing if his selfish ends require it.” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


2Q5 


Miss Hilary rose quickly from the low hassock and 
stood facing Mrs. Maynard, her hands clasped, her 
head thrown back, her eyes glowing like stars. She 
was very pale but perfectly composed, and when she 
spoke her voice was firm and free from the slightest 
trace of excitement. 

“I am grateful to you, Mrs. Maynard,’^ she said, 
“deeply grateful for the kindness that prompted you 
to speak as you have done. I am scarcely able yet 
to realize all that you have told me; I only know 
that it is very, very dreadful ! But I can never think 
of Mr. North again except with feelings of utter ab- 
horrence. Even gratitude would be impossible, if 
what you have suggested should prove to be true. I 
would forego any good fortune, rather than receive 
it at his hands ! Can we not let him know, Mrs. 
Maynard, how plainly we see all his wickedness? 
How utterly we condemn him? Need we go on in 
this preposterous way, affecting to countenance him 
when we know him to be so unworthy? 

“No!” exclaimed Mrs. Maynard with sudden res- 
olution. “We will act this farce no longer. The 
very next time he comes here we will denounce him 
as he deserves.” 

Early the following morning, however, instead of a 
callfromthe perfidious North, Mrs. Maynard received 
this hurried note ; 


266 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


** My Dear Mrs. Maynard: 

“ Before this reaches you I shall be en route to Charleston, on 
business intimately concerning yourself. When I return I will re 
port to you in person. 

“Faithfully yours, 


“A. North.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


Macd.: — Such welcome and unwelcome things at once 
'Tis hard to reconcile. 


— Macbeth. 


It was early in the afternoon of election-day that 
Allan North returned to X . 

As he went up the steps of the Clement House, 
speculating with considerable anxiety as to what 
awkward complications might have arisen there 
during his brief absence, he was hailed by Colonel 
Dayton with a jovial: 

‘‘I say, Mr. North, you do beat all for stealing a 
march on people! It isn’t ten minutes since Warner 
was around here with a telegram from you, saying 
that we were to expect you on the 4:20 train ; and 
here you are, walking in on us at three o’clock as if 
you had just dropped from the clouds I How did 
you manage it, anyway, man alive ? ” he added with 
a blank look. “This three o’clock train comes from 
due south, and you telegraphed from up Vermont- 
way 1 ” 

North laughed as he hurried on to his room. 

“I could reconcile that for you. Colonel, if I had 

267 


268 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


time/’ he said, “but just now I cannot stop. Be 
patient, and it will soon be explained.” 

Waiting only to make a careful toilet. North re- 
paired to No. 33 Delaplaine street, anxious to get 
through with his coming interview with Mrs. 
Maynard before Ollin, whose telegram had preceded 
him but a brief time, should appear upon the scene. 

Allan North was in better spirits than he had 
been in at any time since he began this investigation. 
Success had attended his efforts to trace and identify 
the long-missing heiress; and though an undoubted 
source of anxiety yet remained, he believed that with 
this accomplished, the danger that menaced the good 
name of the family could be averted. Further than 
this he scarcely dared allow himself to hope; and yet 
there was a hope down deep in his heart, so closely 
akin to despair that it sent the color from his face as 
swiftly as a summer cloud obscures the sunlight, 
when he entered Mrs. Maynard’s drawing-room and 
found himself in Myra Hilary’s presence. 

His entrance was unexpected and unannounced, and 
he had advanced half way across the room before the 
two ladies, who were conversing together in low, 
earnest tones over their needle-work became aware 
that he was there. 

Then, with a noticeable lack of cordiality, they 
both greeted him, and Mrs. Maynard coldly invited 
him to be seated. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OP ERRORS. 


269 


North was sufficiently annoyed by this reception 
to be quite thrown out of his usual suavity for the 
moment. 

‘‘I fear that I am interrupting an agreeable tete- 
a-tete, Mrs. Maynard,” he said stiffly, “but I shall 
ask your indulgence only long enough to communi- 
cate to you the results of my recent trip to Charleston. 
The fact that your own interests are so closely in- 
volved therein is my sole justification for intruding 
the mattter upon y-ou now.” 

“You have secured my eager attention in advance, 
Mr. North,” said Mrs. Maynard with quiet sarcasm, 
as she leaned back idly in her chair and folded her 
hands with an air of expectancy. “I cannot be in- 
different to a communication that affects my own 
selfish interests. Pray allow me to ask, is it the mys- 
tery of Annie Dupont that you are about to clear 
away ? ” 

“That is indeed the purpose that I have in mind,” 
returned North, with an involuntary glance toward 
Miss Hilary. It was the merest idle glance, yet she 
fancied that it had a purpose, and she rose at once to 
withdraw from the room. Mrs. Maynard hastily in- 
terposed. 

“Please remain, Miss Hilary,” she said. “You are 
sufficiently familiar with the matter that I have men- 
tioned to feel an interest in this promised solution of 

the mystery. Indeed,” she added in a significant 
18 


270 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

tone, turning toward North with cold inquiry, “it is 
possible that your forthcoming revelations will prove 
to have a deeper personal interest for Miss Hilary 
than for myself; how is this, Mr. North ? 

North looked at her sharply for a moment, while a 
faintly perceptible shade of amusement blended with 
the grave, annoyed expression on his face ; then he 
said with furtive satire : 

“Your discernment astonishes me, Mrs. Maynard! 
But indeed, I had no intention of excluding Miss 
Hilary from this interview. I have every reason to 
believe that she will find the story of Annie Dupont 
interesting, and that she will rejoice as earnestly at 
the good fortune of that young lady as I do myself, 
or as you will, Mrs. Maynard, after a time.^’ 

“You are quite convinced then, Mr. North,” said 
Mrs. Maynard as she trifled nervously with her 
dainty lace handkerchief without looking at North, 
“that there is such a person as Annie Dupont, and 
that she is truly Mrs. Dunkirk’s niece? ” 

“I am quite convinced of it, Mrs. Maynard. Just 
as sure as I am that you are in this room; just as 
sure as I am of my own presence here; just as sure 
as I am of any other established verity. Annie 
Dupont is no mere creation of fancy or rumor; she is 
a fact, an unqualified fact, and an established fact. 
And facts, you know, are stubborn things 1 ” 

^‘Qf course,” Mrs. Maynard resumed in the same 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 271 

cold, constrained tone, “you have taken the precau- 
tion of satisfying yourself with indisputable proofs 
of her identity, before accepting her as the heiress? ” 

“Oh, most assuredl}', I have taken every precaution 
of that nature. Within the last thirty-six hours the 
papers that establish her identity have all been in my 
possession.” 

“Do you know where she is at the present time? ” 

“I think I may confidently assert that I do.” He 
smiled as he spoke, looking keenly at Mrs. Maynard, 
who, however, was unconscious of the glance. 

“Have you brought those papers with you, Mr. 
North — the documentary evidence of which you 
spoke? ” 

“I have not brought them with me. They are not 
now in my possession.” 

“ Indeed ! May I inquire where they are ? ” 

“They are probably now in the hands of Mrs. 
Dunkirk’s attorneys and executors, Messrs. Hunter 
and Ketchum, of New York.” 

“Hunter and Ketchum ? ” She repeated the words 
involuntarily. She was for the moment startled out 
of her eold composure; she looked up at him with 
perplexed speculation. 

“It’s a perfectly regular proceeding, Mrs. Maynard, 
as you will presently understand,” added North, 
answering the mute inquiry in her glance. “But we 
are losing valuable time. Allow me to proceed 


272 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


without further delay to the brief narrative of fact. 

He drew out his watch as he spoke and laid it open 
on the small table at his elbow. He had the air of a 
man determined to accomplish a set task within a 
given time. The ladies waited, each composed in 
outward mien, for his recital. 

“ It was in Baltimore, you recollect, Mrs. Maynard,’^ 
he began addressing himself directly to that lady, 
^‘that Hamilton Dupont^s death occurred. He was 
a perfect stranger in that city, having gone thither 
in search of employment, leaving his wife and child in 
Charleston. This latter fact, by the way, corrects a 
mistaken impression of mine. I had always supposed 
that Mrs. Dupont also died in Baltimore, and that 
in order to discover any trace of Annie the search 
must commence in that city. This same idea was 
doubtless what baffled Mrs. Dunkirk’s detectives. 
They persistently sought in Baltimore for the child, 
following up one false clue after another, on the 
theory that if she were living at all, that was the 
place to find her. As a matter of fact, neither Mrs. 
Dupont nor the child was in Baltimore at the time 
of Hamilton Dupont’s death although the published 
accounts of the affair gave the impression that they 
were there. 

‘^As you yourself told me, Mrs. Maynard, the poor 
young wife soon after died of a broken heart ; and 
little Annie, thus cast upon the cold charities of the 


A LtTTL^ Comedy oe errors. 


27H 


world, found refuge and loving care in an orphan 
asylum in that city. She was received and registered 
there in her own name, as I discovered a few days 
since on searching the records of the institution. The 
date of this registry — I do not recall it at the mo- 
ment, but I have a memorandum of it somewhere — 
corresponds exactly with the date furnished me 
through another source; and thus it affords a most 
satisfactory corroboration of my chief documentary 
evidence. 

“Now, before the child had been in the asylum 
three weeks, a lady who was then a transient visitor 
in Charleston presented herself at the institution, in- 
quiring for Annie Dupont. She soon became con- 
vinced that the child who was entered by that name 
upon the books was the Annie Dupont whom she 
was seeking; and, that question settled, she pro- 
ceeded to declare her reasons for making this inquiry. 
She had known Hamilton Dupont and his wife inti- 
mately, and was greatly attached to them both; and 
for their sakes she felt an unusual interest in their in- 
fant daughter, who was, I am told, at that time a 
remarkably beautiful child — which I can very easily 
believe, having seen for myself what a charming 
woman she has become.” 

As he spoke these last words with the same air of 
simple good faith that had characterized all his 
previous statements, Mrs. Maynard glanced invol- 


274 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

untarily at Miss Hilary as if putting his verdict to 
the critical test of her own dispassionate judgment. 
Miss Hilary, with eyes downcast, was unconscious 
of the swift scrutiny. Smiling a little as he observed 
it. North continued : 

“This lady furthermore stated that she was 
slightly acquainted with Mrs. Dunkirk, Hamilton 
Dupont’s sister. ‘Now’ — this is in effect what she 
said to the authorities at the asylum — ‘Mrs. 
Dunkirk is a wealthy widow, and Annie, as her only 
living relative, has a claim upon her which no one 
can dispute. But Mrs. Dunkirk is a cold, stern 
woman, utterly unfit to be the guardian of a tender 
child like Annie. Let me adopt this little one and 
rear her lovingly for her own and her parents’ sakes. 
Lest Mrs. Dunkirk should discover her and try to 
take her from me, I will conceal her real name and 
call her by my own ; not even the child herself shall 
ever know that I am not her own true mother until 
I shall deem that the proper time has come to dis- 
close the secret. I will have all necessary proofs of 
her identity at hand, so that if her aunt should die 
leaving her fortune to the next of kin, xinnie’s claim 
can easily be established. All this I promise and will 
fulfill ; only let me have the child to care for and love 
as m}^ own.’ 

“Well, to be brief about it, the lady carried her 
point. The adoption papers were duly made out, 


A. LITTLE COMEDT OE ERRORS. 


275 


and before another day had elapsed Annie Dupont 
had left the orphan asylum, never to enter it again. 
She was taken to the home of her new mother and 
given the name of that lady — the name by which 
she was ever after called ; and she has never known 
to this day, though I shall marvel very greatly if she 
doesn’t begin to suspect it soon, that she ever was 
Annie Dupont.” 

Again Mrs. Maynard’s glance sought Miss Hilary, 
this time to encounter Myra’s eyes, full of eager 
speculation. If each had spoken the thought in her 
own mind in that instant, the denouement of North’s 
story would have been materially hastened. But 
they both held their peace and waited for him to un- 
fold the mystery in his own way. 

“Beyond this point,” he went on, catching up the 
narrative again after a meditative little pause, “I can- 
not in this necessarily brief outline follow her history 
step by step for the next fifteen or twenty years. It 
is essential, however, to note that the lady soon 
after embarked for Europe, where her husband held 
some official position under our government — consul 
in some remote foreign part. I may as well add in 
this connection that he died a year later, and his 
widow, now more than ever devoted to her adopted 
daughter, and dreading a separation from her more 
than anything else in the world, remained abroad for 
several years, drifting from one point of interest to 


2Y6 K tlTTtE COMEDY OF ERROlt^. 

another; thus Annie was nearly grown to woman- 
hood before she revisited her native land. Owing to 
this fact, as well as to the entire lack of any definite 
information to work on, and the multiplicity of false 
clews that were given from time to time, the detec- 
tives whom Mrs. Dunkirk at different periods engaged 
in her search for her niece were baffled in all their 
attempts to find her. Swallowed up in another 
name and identity, Annie Dupont had practically 
ceased to exist. 

^‘And now I must digress just for a moment in or- 
der to bring to your notice yet another person who 
plays an important part in the sequel. This person 
is at present living in Evansburg, a small place 

about ten miles from X , and it was from her that 

I succeeded in obtaining my chief evidence in this 
case. Her name is of no consequence ; or rather, it is 
of so much consequence that I shall withhold it for 
the present. Taken at an early age from a wretched 
tenement house in New York, and transferred to the 
different atmosphere of a wealthy lady’s home, 
where for the first time in her life she was treated as 
a human being, where her hands were trained to 
deftness in all household duties, where she was given 
a sound rudimentary education and was fitted by 
kind and painstaking instruction for the humble 
walk in life for which nature and circumstances had 
evidently designed her, this girl knew no better than 


A LITTLfi COMEDY OF ERRORS. 27t 

to misinterpret the intentions of her kind benefac- 
tress (who was, as you may have already shrewdly 
surmised, none other than Annie Dupont’s adoptive 
mother), and upon this misinterpretation to build 
the most absurd and extravagant expectations. It 
may have been the girl’s own preposterous vanity 
that conceived the notion, or it is possible that the 
thought was suggested to her by some older person. 
Be this as it may, she began to cherish the hope that 
she would some day receive a liberal share of the 
lady’s small fortune, to which, as she knew, there 
were no immediate heirs. It was only when Annie 
Dupont was legally adopted that this absurd bubble 
burst. Learning accidentally at this time of the fool- 
ish expectation that the girl had been indulging, the 
lady told her to dismiss the idea at once. ‘I should 
never have dreamed of making you my heir, in any 
event,’ she said, ‘and now everything that I possess 
will go to Annie, my adopted daughter.’ 

“Instead of acquiescing in this decision without a 
murmur — which calm philosophy, by the way, 
would have prevented this story of mine from being 
told to my present select audience— the girl was 
angry, and she visited all her resentment upon the 
child who had innocently overthrown her ambitious 
air-castles. I have thus represented to you, Mrs. 
Maynard, the peculiar attitude of this person toward 
Annie Dupont, that you may the more readily per- 


278 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

ceive a motive for the line of action that she subse- 
quently pursued. 

‘‘After a lapse of several years, spent very happily 
abroad, the lady’s health began to fail seriously, 
and she was warned by her attending physician that 
the insidious disease which had been developing for 
months unsuspected by herself, might at any time 
prove fatal. The dread of dying in a foreign land 
and leaving Annie once more among strangers, alone 
and unprotected, induced the lady to return at once 
to her American home, a beautiful little villa on the 
Hudson, where for a few months her health seemed 
to be materially improved. Encouraged by this 
favorable change, she decided to wait a little longer 
before making known to her adopted daughter the 
secret of her true parentage, seeming to shrink with 
an instinctive dread from making the disclosure. 

“Annie was now sixteen, and very finely accom- 
plished, having been since the age of five years under 
the care of governesses and tutors who had taken 
great pride in fitting their pupil for the social posi- 
tion that she was destined to occupy. Anxious, 
however, that her daughter’s education should be as 
broad and deep as possible, the lady decided to give 
her the advantage of a thorough collegiate training ; 
and a few weeks after their return to America found 
Annie Dupont at Yassar.” 

Mrs. Maynard’s attention now appeared to be 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 279 

wholly withdrawn from Miss Hilary and concen- 
trated upon North’s story. Her hands, clasped to- 
gether closely, lay motionless in her lap; her eyes 
were fixed upon North’s face; she listened with al- 
most breathless attention to every word that he 
spoke. 

As if influenced by this change in her, North’s man- 
ner altered; its lightness vanished and histones grew 
earnest and sympathetic as he proceeded. 

“For a few months all went well. Annie was 
happy in her college life, winning friends and popu- 
larity, and little dreaming of the blow that was 
soon to fall suddenly upon her. When at last, sum- 
moned by the telegram which, like a thunder-bolt 
from a clear sky, had startled her out of the routine 
of her busy school life, she reached her home on the 
Hudson, she was too late to receive the loving fare- 
well of the one who had been her dearest earthly 
friend. 

“The end had come almost without warning, butit 
seems that the lady had felt a presentiment of her 
impending fate, and had sent for her lawyer in order 
to make every provision for Annie’s future. Unfort- 
unately he was absent from home and could not re- 
spond to the summons in time to receive from her 
lips her last instructions. The only person who was 
with the lady at her death was the girl whom I have 
already mentioned. This girl, who had been with 


2^0 


A LI1^TLE COMEDO OE ERRORS. 


Annie and her mother during all their long wander- 
ings in Europe, was the only one of the present 
household who knew the history of the adopted 
child ; it was she who received the final directions of 
her mistress concerning Annie’s welfare. How these 
instructions were treated, the sequel will show. 

‘‘With the full knowledge that it was the last 
message she should ever send her darling, the lady 
wrote a long letter to Annie, giving her a full history 
of her past, her parents’ death, her brief sojourn in 
the orphan asylum, her subsequent adoption and 
every little incident relating thereto. Then, having 
told where all the papers containing the proofs of 
her identity were to be found, the writer closed with 
a most touching and affectionate farewell. Before 
the ink was dry on the paper, the hand that had 
penned these loving lines was cold in death. 

“Had Annie Dupont received this letter, it would 
have changed the whole current of her life ; but she was 
not destined thus to learn her romantic history. It 
chanced that the first person who approached the 
desk where the letter lay was this servant, now the 
housekeeper and a woman of thirty years. She read 
the letter and it increased her animosity toward 
Annie. She determined that her rival, as she still ab- 
surdly considered the girl, should never be known as 
Annie Dupont, never inherit her aunt’s wealth ; and 
she also determined if possible to prevent her from 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


281 


inlieriting the smaller estate of her adoptive mother. 
In that desk, jealously guarded for years, were all the 
documents on which Annie Dupont’s fortunes de- 
pended ; the papers that declared her identity as 
Hamilton Dupont’s daughter and Mrs. Dunkirk’s 
niece; the adoption papers that made her the legal 
heir of her kind benefactress ; the will of that lady in 
which everything of which she died possessed was 
bequeathed to her adopted daughter — all these pre- 
cious papers lay within reach, and only one living 
person knew of their existence. And that one person, 
because she hated Annie Dupont and regarded her 
good fortune with a jealousy as implacable as it was 
unreasonable, — that one person, unawed by the pres- 
ence of death, and too ignorant to fear the legal 
consequences should her deed be discovered, took 
possession of those papers, and also the letter to 
Annie and hid them away, exulting in the belief that 
she was thus avenging her own wrong and disap- 
pointment. 

“In her haste to secure these important documents 
the woman had overlooked another letter which, 
lying on the desk sealed and directed, was found by 
the lawyer when he called a few hours later. This 
letter was addressed to a lady in New York with 
whom Annie’s adoptive mother had long been ac- 
quainted, asking her to assume the guardianship of 
the young girl. The lawyer posted the letter imme* 


282 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


diately, and in answer to it an elderly lady came 
down to the villa on the day of the funeral, to signify 
her willingness to grant her late friend’s dying re- 
quest. With this new guardian Annie Dupont went 
to New York, where she remained until her marriage 
five years later. 

“Inquiry naturally arose as to the disposition 
which the lady had made of her property. As there 
was no will to be found, the estate passed through 
the hands of administrators appointed by the court 
and went to Annie, the supposed daughter. 

“The household was quickly broken up; the villa 
was closed, and subsequently sold ; the housekeeper 
married Patrick O’Gorman (the cousin of her late 
mistress’ coachman, Dennis O’Reilly), and went to 
Evansburg to live, taking with her the stolen papers 
which she has preserved all these years, never quite 
daring to destroy them, and no doubt having an eye 
to a possible speculation if any demand for them 
should ever be made. Thus it comes that I was able 
at last to secure them, and that they are now in the 
hands of Hunter and Ketchum. 

“And now, Mrs. Maynard,” continued North 
speaking slowly and looking earnestly at Mrs. 
Maynard, who, with her hands still held in that tense 
clasp and her eyes fixed upon his face, was listening 
to him with rapt attention, “the strangest part of 
my story is yet to come. For five long years Mrs. 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


283 


Dunkirk was searching far and wide in the hope of 
discovering some trace of her niece, never dreaming 
that the young girl whom she had taken into her 
heart and home was the very one whom she so vain- 
ly sought; for Nina Kingsbury and Annie Dupont are 
indeed one and the same, and the lady whose name 
I have withheld from you until now was Mrs. 
Kingsbury — your adoptive mother! ’’ 

The thought, the suspicion, wildly improbable 
though it seemed, had occurred to Mrs. Maynard’s 
mind even while North was speaking; she had in one 
flash of divination perceived the truth as he led her 
on step by step over a pathway as familiar to her 
as the one that her own feet now daily trod; yet 
when the actual statement , fell upon hei ear she 
seemed to be incapable of grasping its meaning. 
Looking at North in a dazed way she said slowly : 

“7, Mr. North — I am Annie Dupont? It cannot 
be I I thought it was Miss Hilary I Have you made 
no mistake?’^ 

There is no mistake,” returned North firmly but 
quietly, for he perceived that she was in danger of 
breaking down under the conflicting emotions and 
the nervous excitement of this scene. “You will find 
everything to be exactly as I have told you. That 
letter of Mrs. Kingsbury’s to yourself was among 
the papers that I forwarded to Hunter and Ketchum ; 
blit I particularly requested them to return it as soon 


284 


JL LITTLE COMEDY OF ERROES. 


as they were through with it, and so after all these 
years it will reach you at last. I will add that you 
may expect to hear very soon from those gentlemen ; 
as the executors of your aunt’s estate, they will 
doubtless communicate with the newly-discovered 
heir-at-law at as early a date as possible. And now, 
Mrs. Maynard, may I ask you to accept my congrat- 
ulations? I sincerely rejoice in your identification 
as Annie Dupont, and I wish you all happiness now 
and hereafter ! ” 

Could he have had the faintest realization of the 
cruelty of these words, he would have cut off his 
right hand rather than have uttered them. Mrs. 
Maynard rose slowly, looking at him with a strange 
expression which, like the dead calm of her manner, 
seemed but the prelude to a storm of passion. When 
she spoke she knew not what impulse lay behind the 
words; she only dimly comprehended that what she 
would have said remained unspoken, while the 
thought that she would have buried in her heart 
found a passionate utterance. 

‘‘ You wish me happiness, Mr. North ? ” she repeated 
slowly, in tones that would have been overwhelming 
had he been conscious of deserving the scorn that 
they contained. I thank you! Why should I not 
be happy? If heart and conscience condemn us not, 
then happiness is within the reach of all ; to these 
silent mentors I commend you, now and hereafter! ” 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


285 


Then it was that a perception of his blunder came 
over North, and he started up with an impulsive prot- 
estation on his lips, when suddenly a voice was 
heard in the hall, speaking to Williams in a sharp, 
imperative tone; then the drawing-room portiere 
was swept aside and a hasty step crossed the thres- 
hold. 

Mrs. Maynard, who was directly facing the door, 
looked up quickly to see who had entered. North, 
who was partially turned away from the door, sank 
back in his chair and looked quickly at Mrs. 
Maynard. 

He saw her start violently, while the frozen lifeless- 
ness of her manner gave place to sudden alert amaze- 
ment. An inarticulate cry broke from her lips ; then 
she stood transfixed, gazing straight ahead as if she 
beheld an apparition from another world. 

A cool little smile passed over North’s face as he 
noted her agitation; and yet with all his coolness, 
a faint thrill of excitement ran along his nerves as he 
contemplated the scene now at hand. 

Rising deliberately he drew himself up to his full 
height ; then turning slowly around he found himself 
face to face with the person who had just entered the 
room. 

A few paces distant the latter stood,— a gentleman 

in a long ulster which was unfastened and thrown 

back, revealing an elegant toilet beneath. This gen- 
19 


286 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


tleman was in personal appearance the perfect coun- 
terpart of Allan North; there was the same tall, slen- 
der figure, the same proudly poised head with clus- 
tering auburn curls, the same keen, dark grey eyes, 
clear-cut features, sweeping dark mustache ; only in 
the more delicate variations of expression could a 
subtile difference be traced. One might well have 
been amazed by their wonderful resemblance as they 
stood thus silently face to face, looking at each other. 

Miss Hilary, no less agitated than Mrs. Maynard, 
stood with her eyes fixed in anxious suspense upon 
Allan’s calm, grave countenance; while Williams, for- 
getting himself in the excitement of the moment, was 
hovering in the doorway with uplifted hands, gazing 
at the two gentlemen in open-mouthed astonish- 
ment. 

One moment went by in absolute silence — a mo- 
ment full of dramatic interest to every member of 
that little group. 



CHAPTER XIX. 


Duke: — Stay, stand apart — I know not which is which! 

— Comedy of Errors. 

Cleo : — Since my lord 

Is Antony again I will be Cleopatra 

— Antony and Cleopatra. 


‘‘Well, 011in!’» 

“Fow, Allan 

These two greetings, the former uttered in calm, 
deliberate tones, the latter in accents of keen amaze- 
ment, broke the silence simultaneously ; then the new- 
comer, with a curious blending of expressions in his 
countenance, stepped forward hastily, and grasping 
North’s hand continued in the same incredulous 
tones : 

“Allan North! Well, by all that’s astonishing, 
how came you here ? I never should have dreamed of 

such a thing I Here in X , and at Mrs. Maynard’s 1 

How does it come? What does it mean? Speak, 
someone, and explain this mystery! ” 

“What Joes it mean?” echoed Mrs. Maynard ex- 
citedly, as she looked from one to the other in grow- 
ing perplexity. “You are the very same — and yet 
not the same ! What strange mystery, what won 

287 


288 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


derful coincidence, what unfortunate complication 
can this be? ” 

*‘It is simply, Mrs. Maynard,” interposed Allan 
with assumed lightness, “the closing scene of the 
little Comedy of Errors that we have been playing ; 
or perhaps my brother will be disposed to call the 
piece ‘My Double, and How He Undid Me.* Can it 
be possible, Ollin,” turning to that gentleman, “that 
you have never told Mrs. Maynard about your twin 
brother, and our remarkable resemblance to each 
other? ** 

A quick exclamation fell from Mrs. Maynard’s lips 
as the first inkling of the truth now entered her 
mind. Before Ollin could reply to his brother’s ques- 
tion she exclaimed to Allan: 

“Is it possible that you have been deeeiving me — 
personating your brother ? Oh, dreadful ! Why did 
I not suspect that there was something wrong ? 
And yet, you were so like him — and you knew all 
about my business affairs — oh, I cannot understand 
it at all! ” and she stopped short, once more baffled 
by the mystery confronting her. 

It was now Ollin ’s turn. His mind had been rapidly 
at work during this little interchange of dialogue 
between Allan and Mrs. Maynard, and a very dis- 
turbing train of speculations had been the result. 

“ Can it be possible, Mrs. Maynard,” he exclaimed, 
his countenance a perfect kalaidescope of expressions 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


289 


as he looked anxiously at her, “that you have mis- 
taken my brother for me?^^ 

The question, the tone, perhaps something in his 
eyes as they looked eloquently into hers, conveyed 
whole volumes of enlightenment to Mrs. Maynard. 
The misunderstandings of the past few days, which 
had involved Ollin North in such serious suspicions, 
were suddenly swept away, and though there still 
remained much to be explained, there was for the 
time room for no other thought in her mind but the 
triumphant one of his complete vindication. Her 
face was radiant, her voice vibrant with happiness as 
she answered : 

“I am fully undeceived now, Mr. North, though I 
confess that I have for the past two weeks believed 
this gentleman to be you. I can see so many things, 
now, that ought to have opened my eyes to the 
truth!’’ She turned a glance full of wonder and 
speculation upon Allan North as she spoke. 

He looked grave and disturbed ; he found it diffi- 
cult to rally his usual lightness of manner, for a 
vague presentiment had seized him that affairs were 
about to take some turn that he had not foreseen nor 
calculated upon. Mrs. Maynard’s glance tacitly 
challenged him to an explanation, but he was not 
yet prepared to take up the gauntlet, and he was 
therefore compelled to plead for a delay. 

“I must throw myself upon your mercy for the 


290 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


present, Mrs. Maynard,^’ he said gravely. trust 
that I shall be able to render a satisfactory account 
of myself, but I can say nothing more until I have 
had a private interview with my brother. May I 
hope that you will all suspend judgment on my 
course until I am in a position to defend it ? 

The look of mystification deepened in the faces of 
his auditors ; but perceiving a perfect acquiescence in 
Mrs. Maynard’s expression, Ollin forebore uttering 
the questions that had almost risen to his lips. 
Slowly drawing ofi* his gloves, he looked at his 
brother for a moment with a peculiarly close, intent 
scrutiny before replying ; then he said quietly : 

“So far as this matter rests between ourselves, 
Allan, it can wait, of course. But now pray tell me, 
if I may ask, how did you happen to come to 
X 

“I came on a professional errand, Noll. I am here 
as the authorized representative of Messrs. Hunter 
and Ketchum, of New York.’’ 

“Hunter and Ketchum? How — why — are you 
associated with them, Allan ? In what case, pray ? ” 

“The same in which you are so deeply concerned — 
the Dunkirk will case.” 

He spoke these last words in a significant tone, 
looking searchingly at his brother to see what effect 
they would produce. His expectation was not ful- 
filled. There was no confusion, no guilty conscious- 


A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


291 


ness in Ollin^s face as he answered; only a genuine 
surprise and amusement. 

“The Dunkirk will case? By Jove, Allan, that is a 
coincidence ! And so we Ve been at opposite ends ol 
that case all this time? Pray tell me, what particu- 
lar point have you been at work upon here? I say, 
Al, haven^t you been rather reconnoitering the 
enemy’s camp? Come now, old fellow, own up!” 

“I will tell you fully about that hereafter, Noll,” 
said his brother, flushing a little under the laughing 
accusation. 

“Oh, very well! Since the Dunkirk will case has 
been introduced, I have a word to say on that sub- 
ject which I shall proceed to say now, as Allan ut- 
terly refuses to talk!” exclaimed Ollin, turning to 
Mrs. Maynard with sudden animation. “Of course 
my brother, being duly informed on that point, 
through his own connection with the case, must 
have told you all about the late awkward develop- 
ments in regard to that will. And right here,” he 
added quickly, “allow me to explain why you never 
heard about it from me. The night before I left 
home, having made an unsuccessful attempt to call 
upon you, I wrote you, stating briefly how matters 
stood in New York, and advisingyouof my proposed 
absence, though not entering into any explanation 
of the object of this hastily projected trip. Now I 
give you my word that I solemnly believed I had 


292 A LITTLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 

mailed that letter, along with several business letters 
that I wrote at the same time; but it now tran- 
spires that I did nothing of the sort, for last evening 
on the train, while making a very thorough inves- 
tigation of my pockets, I brought to light that 
identical document,” holding out to Mrs. Maynard, 
who mechanically accepted it, a letter duly stamped, 
sealed and directed, but not post-marked, “which I 
hereby offer you as an evidence of good faith ! And 
now, to return. I have crowded some very satis- 
factory w'ork into the last two weeks, Mrs. May- 
nard, though it has kept me busy day and night. 
I have been following up clew after cle^w and sifting 
all the evidence I could get my hands on, and the 
consequence is, I have finally discovered the whole 
truth in regard to that forgery ! Isn^t that a suffi- 
cient cause for self-congratulation? ” 

Allan started perceptibly at these words, as he ex- 
changed a flashing glance with Mrs. Maynard. 
Ollin was too wholly absorbed in his own thoughts 
to notice this at all. 

“You see,” he went on without pause, as, throw- 
ing off his ulster and giving it to Williams, he returned 
to the little group who were all eagerly awaiting his 
next words, “I felt a little doubtful about the 
genuineness of that will when I found that Hunter 
and Ketchum were going to contest it. To be sure, 
it seemed all right enough, so far as I could judge 


A LITTLE COMEDY OE ERRORS. 


293 


from the mere copy that Jenner sent us; still I could 
not help feeling some serious misgivings. Without 
mentioning this fact to you, I set mj^self to the task 
of discovering whom, in case the will should prove 
to be fraudulent, I could suspect. I was not long in 
arriving at a definite conclusion. That very gener- 
ous legacy to Jenner had looked rather significant to 
me from the first, and I made up my mind that if 
there was anything wrong about the will, Jenner 
was the first person to be investigated. Her mys- 
terious disappearance as soon as Hunter and 
Ketchum had thrown the case into court confirmed 
my suspicion ; consequently, when I received a tele- 
gram from our New York attorneys, announcing the 
decision of the court and demanding an explanation 
from me, — which was natural enough under the cir- 
cumstances, — my plans took definite shape at once. 
I resolved to hunt Jenner up, if it took half my fort- 
une and all of Pinkerton’s men to do it ! It would 
take too long now to detail the curious circum- 
stances that gave us our first clew ; but at last I 
found her away up in Vermont, among strangers 
and on her death-bed. She had been fatally injured 
in a railway accident, while on her way to Rutland, 
the accident occurring within a short distance of her 
destination. She was perfectly conscious when I 
visited her, and she seemed to realize her condition. 
When I told her for what purpose I had come, she 


294 


A LI'TTLE comedy oE errors. 


immediately and voluntarily confessed that she her- 
self foc'ged that will, relating every attending circum- 
stance with minute detail. I have the confession in 
due form — legal affidavit, sworn to in the presence 
of a magistrate — now in my possession, and I tele- 
graphed the substance of it to Hopkins and Shep- 
herd without an hour’s delay. Thus the awkward 
uncertainty as to who it was that wilfully and 
feloniously forged that Dunkirk will is happily and 
forever at an end. Why, Allan, — oh, congratula- 
tions ? Thank you, my dear boy, thank you ! ” 

For Allen, after standing in apparent stupefaction 
during this rapid recital, had advanced excitedly and 
seized his brother’s hands in a singularly impulsive 
and hearty grasp. His countenance indicated an ex- 
cess of joy and relief so mingled w’ith self-condemna- 
tion that Ollin stared at him in speechless astonish- 
ment. But Mrs. Maynard’s countenance suddenly 
grew luminous with the dawning of a new idea. 

“Oh, Mr. North! ” she exclaimed, turning to Allan 
with angelic reproach in her face. “I comprehend 
this strange affair at last! You thought — you sus- 
pected — ’’ 

“Spare me, Mrs. Maynard!” entreated Allan 
throwing up his hands with a gesture of despair. “I 
know a blunder is accounted worse than a crime, 
and in this case I have proven myself to be the cham- 
pion blunderer! ” 


A LITTLE comedy OF ERRORS. 


295 


“Well, I say, Allan,^’ interposed his brother, recov- 
ering the power of speech, “if your repentance is 
truthfully indicated by your expression of counte- 
nance, you are certainly entitled to mercy. Miss 
Hilary, what do you think of this brother of mine? 
You have had an opportunity to observe his con- 
duct and guage his deserts. Shall we forgive him for 
the blunders to which he has confessed? 

But Miss Hilary did not hear the question. Unable 
to conceal the agitation caused by the revelations of 
the past few moments, she had taken refuge in the 
conservatory ; and when Allan looked around anx- 
iously for her, Mrs. Maynard silently indicated to 
him the place of her retreat. 

With mute but eloquent thanks, he withdrew at 
once to the conservatory, to learn his fate from the 
final court of appeal to which his case had been re- 
ferred. 

There was silence in the drawing-room for the space 
of two minutes, during which Ollin North walked 
nervously to and fro; then pausing beside Mrs. 
Maynard he addressed her in firm, low tones : 

“Mrs. Maynard, I have waited now for two long 
weeks for the answer that you have promised me. 
Do not hesitate to speak — the worst can be only 
I that for which my fears have already prepared me. 
Tell me, Nina, is it yes, or no ? 

The whispered monosyllable must have been satis- 


296 


A LiTtLE COMEDY OF ERRORS. 


factory, for he instantly added, clasping both her 
hands in his: 

‘‘Are you sure of yourself now, darling? Do you 
love me, after all?” 

Her answer came impulsively, with a rush of April 
tears: 

“I did not need all the sorrow of the past two 
weeks, Ollin, to teach me t/zat/” 


CHAPTER XX. 


Sib. : — My kind Antonio, 

I can no other answer give but thanks, 

And thanks, and ever thanks. 

— Twelfth Night. 


Meantime the following note awaited Ollin North 
at the Clement House: 

“Headquarters Ind. Com. 

“ 4:30 p. M. 

Dear North : — You election is now assumed. Returns not all 
in yet, but so far as canvassed indicate overwhelming majority. 
Order two dozen extra on ice, and pledge fidelity to your new 
official duties. Warner.” 


THE END. 




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